Zimbabwe’s dream of reaching the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals in East Africa will crumble if Marian Marinica remains in charge.
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) cannot afford to gamble on the Romanian-born gaffer, whose record across Africa is defined by failure.
Instead, the Nqobile Magwizi-led ZIFA administration should look to South Africa’s example under Hugo Broos, a coach whose pedigree and results show what experienced leadership can achieve.
Marinica’s accidental journey at national team level began in Malawi in 2021 when he was abruptly promoted from Technical Director to head coach.
Despite leading Malawi to the round of 16 at AFCON 2021 in Cameroon, Marinica was dismissed after collecting just three points from four AFCON 2023 qualifiers.
Liberia repeated the Marinica mistake in February 2024, appointing him to lead their AFCON 2025 campaign.
Eight months later, he was gone, having earned the Lone Star only one point from twelve.
Twice entrusted with guiding nations to AFCON finals, Marinica failed so badly he did not even complete the qualifying campaigns.
Zimbabwe’s own experiment has been no better. At the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco, Marinica’s Warriors managed just one point from three matches, in a tournament where three points were enough to reach the knockouts, but Zimbabwe fell short.
Excuses about late appointment ring hollow—Emerse Fae famously took over Côte d’Ivoire mid‑tournament in 2023 and led them to the title.
Marinica, by contrast, has shown no evidence of tactical acumen or motivational leadership.
Now compare this with Broos.
The Belgian tactician won AFCON 2017 with Cameroon, proving his ability to deliver continental success.
Since taking charge of South Africa in 2021, he has rebuilt Bafana Bafana with discipline and pragmatism. By AFCON 2025, Broos had guided South Africa to consistent performances, restoring national pride and belief.
His experience—spanning decades in Europe and Africa—means he knows how to manage elite players, integrate local talent, and navigate high stakes tournaments.
The contrast could not be sharper.
Marinica’s background is largely in scouting and youth development, with little exposure to managing top flight talent until Malawi elevated him.
Zimbabwe boasts top players like Tawanda Maswanhise and Marshall Munetsi, who need a coach with proven pedigree.
Marinica is learning on the job—and struggling.
Zimbabwe’s FIFA ranking of 132 means the Warriors will likely be seeded among the weakest teams in the 2027 qualifiers.
That makes the choice of coach even more critical.
Every other nations will view Zimbabwe as easy points and entrusting Marinica with the campaign risks confirms that perception.
South Africa, under Broos, shows what happens when a federation invests in experience: a team once drifting has become competitive again, and is on its way to the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.
Hiring an expatriate coach should raise standards, not lower them.
Marinica’s record—six losses, one win, and one draw in AFCON qualifiers, plus three winless competitive matches with Zimbabwe—offers no reason for optimism.
Broos exemplifies the kind of leadership Zimbabwe should seek: proven, disciplined, and successful.
Zimbabwean football deserves better and Marinica represents risk without reward.
Broos represents experience and achievement. If the Warriors want to reach AFCON 2027, they must follow South Africa’s example and appoint a coach with continental credentials, not one whose CV is defined by failure.
