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The Matabeleland football team is the team representing Matabeleland, the western part of Zimbabwe. They are not affiliated with FIFA or CAF, and therefore cannot compete for the FIFA World Cup or the Africa Cup of Nations.[1][2][3] The Team is affiliated to the Confederation of Independent Football Associations (ConIFA).

Matabeleland

Nickname(s)	Ingqungqulu
Association	Matabeleland Football Confederacy
Confederation	ConIFA World Unity Football Alliance
Head coach	Giuseppe Cristaldi
Captain	Praise Ndlovu
Most caps	Khulekani Maziwa Oscar George (24)
Top scorer	Sawusani Mudimba Mduduzi Mpofu (13)
Home stadium	Various Stadiums
First colours
First international
Padania 6–1 Matabeleland (Sutton, United Kingdom; 31 May 2018)
Biggest win
Tuvalu 1–3 Matabeleland (Haringey, United Kingdom; 3 June 2018)
Biggest defeat
Padania 6–1 Matabeleland (Sutton, United Kingdom; 31 May 2018)
ConIFA World Football Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 2018)
Best result	13th, 2018

History

The Team is run by Matabeleland Football Confederacy which is itself administered by the Save Matabeleland Coalition.[4] Matabeleland Football Confederacy is an Independent Football Association promoting football in Matabeleland. The Confederacy is open to all clubs and soccer associations in Matabeleland provided they subscribe to the Constitution of MFC. Its objectives being development through sport, Soccer for human rights Community Development. Career grooming and exposure. International Representation. The Confederacy was founded in 2016 by Busani Sibindi who is its President. The Technical Director who is also a Co-founder is Busani Khanye.

The team were originally scheduled to play their first official friendly against Darfur on 10 December 2017, however travel problems led to the game being cancelled. Nevertheless, because of results in unofficial games against club sides, Matabeleland still gathered enough points to qualify for the 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup in London.

In 2022, Matabeleland entered the CONIFA African Cup, drawing 1-1 to Yoruba Nation and beating eventual winners Biafra FC 1-0. They lost the final game 1-0 to Biafra to get 2nd in the competition

Conifa World Football Cup Participation

Matabeleland have played in the 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup qualification. Matabeleland participated in its maiden major Tournament,[5] the CONIFA World Football Cup to be held in London from 31 May to 10 June 2018. As part of the promotion for the tournament, sponsors Paddy Power launched a competition to design the kit Matabeleland will wear during the competition.[6] With English coach Justin Walley at the helm, it was previously announced that former Liverpool great Bruce Grobbelaar would work as goalkeeping coach while Halifax Town and current Zimbabwe international Cliff Moyo would appear for the side. However, when the final squad was announced, Moyo did not appear.

At the tournament, Matabeleland experienced a testing first game, losing 6–1 to Padania, while Thabiso Ndlela scored their first competitive goal. A final game victory over Tuvalu delivered a record 3–1 win with Shylock Ndlovu scoring a brace, pitting them against Algerian region Kabylia in the first placement round. Despite a strong performance, the Matabeleland side fell 4–3 on penalties. However, boosted by the appearance of Zimbabwean legend Bruce Grobbelaar, two 1–0 victories followed against Chagos Islands (replacing the expelled Ellan Vannin) and Tamil Eelam as the African team eventually finished 13th in the overall tournament rankings.

At the end of the tournament, English coach Justin Walley stepped down as manager, while the MFC announced the formation of a women's team[7] and participation in the 2018 Human Rights Cup.[8]

Conifa African Cup Participation

Matabeleland competed in 2022 CONIFA African Cup. They drew their first game against Yoruba Nation, drawing 1-1. They beat Biafra FF 1-0 to qualify for the final, where they played Biafra FF again. They lost 1-0 and finished 2nd in CONIFA African Cup

International record

At CONIFA World Football Cup

Year	Position	P	W	D	L	GF	GA
ConIFA World Football Cup
2014	Not a CONIFA Member
2016	Did not qualify
2018	13th	5	2	1	2	5	12
Total		5	2	1	2	5	12

CONIFA African Cup 2nd - 2022

Current squad

The following players were called up to the 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup. Caps and goals correct as of 30 May 2018.

Note: While ConIFA accepts unofficial games as caps, Matabeleland's first officially recognised game was 31 May 2018 against  Padania.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Thandazani Mdlongwa	(1988-01-08) 8 January 1988 (age 34)	18	0	Victory United
29	1GK	Notice Dube	(1988-11-26) 26 November 1988 (age 33)	7	0	Makomo FC
13	1GK	Bruce Sithole	(1991-04-07) 7 April 1991 (age 31)	1	0	Unattached
96	1GK	Bruce Grobbelaar	(1957-10-06) 6 October 1957 (age 65)	1	0	Retired
4	2DF	Khulekani Maziwa	(1988-09-15) 15 September 1988 (age 34)	24	7	Unattached
12	2DF	Sipho Mlalazi	(1991-09-14) 14 September 1991 (age 31)	20	9	Unattached
14	2DF	Praise Ndlovu (captain)	(1993-07-12) 12 July 1993 (age 29)	20	0	Unattached
6	2DF	Mthulisi Mbizo	(1994-09-24) 24 September 1994 (age 28)	17	1	Lupane State
2	2DF	Michael Sibindi	(1992-09-13) 13 September 1992 (age 30)	9	0	Unattached
15	2DF	Mthulusi Dube	(1995-09-08) 8 September 1995 (age 27)	3	0	Unattached
10	3MF	Oscar George	(1996-01-07) 7 January 1996 (age 26)	24	6	Unattached
7	3MF	Andisiwe Sibindi	(1986-06-14) 14 June 1986 (age 36)	19	1	Unattached
17	3MF	Thomas Nkomo	(1989-09-25) 25 September 1989 (age 33)	18	5	Unattached
3	3MF	Bekithemba Moyo	(1987-04-25) 25 April 1987 (age 35)	16	11	Unattached
8	3MF	Sawusani Mudimba	(1997-05-12) 12 May 1997 (age 25)	10	13	FMSA Umguza
11	3MF	Romeo Sibanda	(1990-04-01) 1 April 1990 (age 32)	4	0	Unattached
5	3MF	Godwin Ndlovu	(1988-12-11) 11 December 1988 (age 33)	3	0	Unattached
16	3MF	Musa Sthamburi
22	4FW	Mduduzi Mpofu	(1996-09-30) 30 September 1996 (age 26)	23	13	Victory United
21	4FW	Professor Tshuma	(1990-04-27) 27 April 1990 (age 32)	23	10	Unattached
18	4FW	Shylock Ndlovu	(1990-03-08) 8 March 1990 (age 32)	10	8	Unattached
19	4FW	Thabiso Ndlela	(1996-09-10) 10 September 1996 (age 26)	8	7	Unattached
20	4FW	Dumenkosini Ndlovu	(1996-08-01) 1 August 1996 (age 26)	7	3	CIWU

References

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