Zimbabwe’s Winless Run Hits 12 Months as Algeria Prevail in Jeddah

Zimbabwe’s senior national football team, the Warriors, have now gone a full year without tasting victory on the international stage after falling to Algeria in a friendly match played in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday.

The Warriors were second best for much of the encounter, struggling to cope with Algeria’s speed, intensity and overall dominance. The loss extends Zimbabwe’s winless run in full international fixtures, excluding the COSAFA Cup where a developmental squad was fielded.

Zimbabwe’s last senior international win was on 24 October last year, when they defeated Namibia 3–1 in South Africa. Since then, the team has featured in nine matches, managing only four points from draws and suffering five defeats. Over that stretch, they have scored six goals while conceding twelve.

While losing to a strong Algerian side — ranked fourth in Africa — was hardly unexpected, the bigger concern remains: when will the Warriors return to winning ways?

Some analysts are suggesting that it may be time to refresh the squad, moving away from overused veterans and giving more opportunities to emerging talent. In Thursday’s match, the younger players introduced in the second half displayed energy and determination that was missing earlier in the game.

For more than a decade, Zimbabwe has hovered around the 120 mark on the FIFA world rankings, highlighting long-standing structural challenges within the team.

With little time to dwell on the latest setback, the Warriors now shift their focus to their next friendly against Qatar in Doha on Monday — their final test during this international break.

These matches are part of Zimbabwe’s preparation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, set to begin next month in Morocco.