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South Africa vs Zimbabwe head-to-head record

South Africa wins
10
Draws
5
Zimbabwe wins
6

21 meetings, 1977 to 2025Goals: South Africa 32, Zimbabwe 19

South Africa and Zimbabwe have met 21 times since 1977. South Africa have won 10, Zimbabwe 6, and 5 matches ended level. They last met on 29 December 2025, when South Africa won 3–2 at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The 21 meetings have produced 51 goals, 2.43 per game. The biggest win is South Africa’s 7–0 in a friendly in 1977. South Africa are unbeaten in the last five meetings (3 wins, 2 draws). They went 15 years without meeting, between 1977 and 1992.

Who has won more, South Africa or Zimbabwe?

All matches21 matches

10 South Africa5 drawsZimbabwe 6

Competitive13 matches

6 South Africa4 drawsZimbabwe 3

Friendlies8 matches

4 South Africa1 drawZimbabwe 3

Key numbers

Goals
South Africa 32, Zimbabwe 192.43 per game
First meeting
South Africa 7–0 ZimbabweFriendly, 9 Apr 1977
Most recent
Zimbabwe 2–3 South AfricaAfrica Cup of Nations, 29 Dec 2025
South Africa’s biggest win
South Africa 7–0 ZimbabweFriendly, 9 Apr 1977
Zimbabwe’s biggest win
Zimbabwe 4–1 South AfricaAfrica Cup of Nations qualifying, 16 Aug 1992
Most goals in a meeting
South Africa 7–0 ZimbabweFriendly, 9 Apr 1977
Current run
South Africa unbeaten in 5
Biggest upset
South Africa 1–2 ZimbabweFriendly, 10 Sept 2013Winner’s rating-based win expectancy: 15%
TFN Elo rating now
South Africa 1717 (59th), Zimbabwe 1482 (108th)How the rating works

Last five meetings

  1. Zimbabwe2South Africa3

    Africa Cup of Nations

    Marrakesh, Morocco (neutral)

  2. South Africa0Zimbabwe0

    World Cup qualifying

    Durban, South Africa

  3. South Africa3Zimbabwe1

    World Cup qualifying

    Bloemfontein, South Africa

  4. South Africa1Zimbabwe0

    World Cup qualifying

    Johannesburg, South Africa

  5. Zimbabwe0South Africa0

    World Cup qualifying

    Harare, Zimbabwe

Who has had the upper hand over time?

The line climbs with every South Africa win and drops with every Zimbabwe win, so its height shows who has won more meetings up to that point.

Above the line: South Africa have won more Below: Zimbabwe have won more
9 April 1977: South Africa 7–0 Zimbabwe (Friendly). South Africa +13 July 1977: Zimbabwe 1–1 South Africa (Friendly). South Africa +116 August 1992: Zimbabwe 4–1 South Africa (Africa Cup of Nations qualifying). Level24 April 1993: South Africa 1–1 Zimbabwe (Africa Cup of Nations qualifying). Level24 April 1994: South Africa 1–0 Zimbabwe (Friendly). South Africa +126 November 1995: South Africa 2–0 Zimbabwe (Simba Tournament). South Africa +216 June 1999: South Africa 0–1 Zimbabwe (Friendly). South Africa +19 July 2000: Zimbabwe 0–2 South Africa (World Cup qualifying). South Africa +229 July 2000: South Africa 0–1 Zimbabwe (COSAFA Cup). South Africa +15 May 2001: South Africa 2–1 Zimbabwe (World Cup qualifying). South Africa +219 July 2003: South Africa 0–1 Zimbabwe (COSAFA Cup). South Africa +111 March 2008: South Africa 2–1 Zimbabwe (Friendly). South Africa +228 October 2009: Zimbabwe 1–1 South Africa (COSAFA Cup). South Africa +227 January 2010: South Africa 3–0 Zimbabwe (Friendly). South Africa +315 November 2011: Zimbabwe 2–1 South Africa (Friendly). South Africa +210 September 2013: South Africa 1–2 Zimbabwe (Friendly). South Africa +13 September 2021: Zimbabwe 0–0 South Africa (World Cup qualifying). South Africa +111 November 2021: South Africa 1–0 Zimbabwe (World Cup qualifying). South Africa +211 June 2024: South Africa 3–1 Zimbabwe (World Cup qualifying). South Africa +310 October 2025: South Africa 0–0 Zimbabwe (World Cup qualifying). South Africa +329 December 2025: Zimbabwe 2–3 South Africa (Africa Cup of Nations). South Africa +4Level
South Africa lead by 4 wins after the latest meeting. The biggest lead was 4, held by South Africa from 29 December 2025.

Every meeting on one timeline

Larger dots mark bigger winning margins. Hover a dot for the result.

Home, away and neutral

In South Africa's home games

14 matches

824

South AfricaDrawsZimbabwe

In Zimbabwe's home games

6 matches

132

South AfricaDrawsZimbabwe

At neutral venues

1 match

100

South AfricaDrawsZimbabwe

Record by competition

Record by competition
CompetitionPlayedSouth AfricaDrawsZimbabweGoals
Friendly841316–7
World Cup qualifying64208–2
COSAFA Cup30121–3
Africa Cup of Nations qualifying20112–5
Africa Cup of Nations11003–2
Simba Tournament11002–0

Meetings by decade

South Africa wins Draws Zimbabwe wins
Meetings by decade
DecadeResultsPlayedGoals
1970s29
1990s511
2000s612
2010s39
2020s510

Longest runs

Longest runs
Longest run ofSouth AfricaZimbabwe
Wins in a row22021 to 202422011 to 2013
Unbeaten meetings52021 to 202532011 to 2021

Top scorers in South Africa vs Zimbabwe

  1. 1Delron BuckleySouth Africa2
  2. 2Thapelo MorenaSouth Africa2

Scorer records exist for 5 of the 21 meetings, mostly competitive matches. Own goals are not credited to a player.

Penalty shootouts

  • Zimbabwe 1–1 South AfricaCOSAFA Cup, 28 Oct 2009Zimbabwe won on penalties

Questions answered

How many times have South Africa and Zimbabwe played each other?

21 times, starting on 9 April 1977. 13 of those meetings were competitive and 8 were friendlies.

Who has won more matches between South Africa and Zimbabwe?

South Africa, with 10 wins to 6. 5 matches ended level.

What is the biggest win in South Africa vs Zimbabwe?

South Africa’s 7–0 win in a friendly on 9 April 1977 in Johannesburg.

When did South Africa and Zimbabwe last play?

On 29 December 2025 in Marrakesh, when South Africa won 3–2 at the Africa Cup of Nations.

What is the competitive record between South Africa and Zimbabwe?

In 13 competitive matches, South Africa have 6 wins, Zimbabwe have 3, and 4 ended level.

Have South Africa and Zimbabwe met in a penalty shootout?

Yes, once. Most recently in the COSAFA Cup on 28 October 2009, when Zimbabwe won the shootout after a 1–1 draw.

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Every South Africa vs Zimbabwe result

Show
Every South Africa vs Zimbabwe result
DateHomeScoreAwayCompetitionVenue
Zimbabwe2–3South AfricaAfrica Cup of NationsMarrakesh, Morocco (neutral)
South Africa0–0ZimbabweWorld Cup qualifyingDurban, South Africa
South Africa3–1ZimbabweWorld Cup qualifyingBloemfontein, South Africa
South Africa1–0ZimbabweWorld Cup qualifyingJohannesburg, South Africa
Zimbabwe0–0South AfricaWorld Cup qualifyingHarare, Zimbabwe
South Africa1–2ZimbabweFriendlyJohannesburg, South Africa
Zimbabwe2–1South AfricaFriendlyHarare, Zimbabwe
South Africa3–0ZimbabweFriendlyDurban, South Africa
Zimbabwe1–1Zimbabwe on pensSouth AfricaCOSAFA CupHarare, Zimbabwe
South Africa2–1ZimbabweFriendlyGermiston, South Africa
South Africa0–1ZimbabweCOSAFA CupEast London, South Africa
South Africa2–1ZimbabweWorld Cup qualifyingJohannesburg, South Africa
South Africa0–1ZimbabweCOSAFA CupPort Elizabeth, South Africa
Zimbabwe0–2South AfricaWorld Cup qualifyingHarare, Zimbabwe
South Africa0–1ZimbabweFriendlyJohannesburg, South Africa
South Africa2–0ZimbabweSimba TournamentJohannesburg, South Africa
South Africa1–0ZimbabweFriendlyMafikeng, South Africa
South Africa1–1ZimbabweAfrica Cup of Nations qualifyingJohannesburg, South Africa
Zimbabwe4–1South AfricaAfrica Cup of Nations qualifyingHarare, Zimbabwe
Zimbabweas Southern Rhodesia1–1South AfricaFriendlySalisbury, Southern Rhodesia
South Africa7–0Zimbabweas Southern RhodesiaFriendlyJohannesburg, South Africa

Recent form

South Africa

  1. Wat EgyptFriendly1–0Sun 4 Oct 2026
  2. Wv EritreaAfrica Cup of Nations qualifying5–0Wed 30 Sept 2026
  3. Wv GuineaAfrica Cup of Nations qualifying2–1Sat 26 Sept 2026
  4. Lv CanadaWorld Cup0–1Sun 28 Jun 2026
  5. Wv South KoreaWorld Cup1–0Wed 24 Jun 2026

Zimbabwe

  1. Lv DR CongoAfrica Cup of Nations qualifying1–2Mon 28 Sept 2026
  2. Wv Sierra LeoneAfrica Cup of Nations qualifying3–2Thu 24 Sept 2026
  3. Wv IndiaUnity Cup1–0Sat 30 May 2026
  4. Lv NigeriaUnity Cup0–2Tue 26 May 2026
  5. Wat BotswanaMukuru 4 Nations3–0Sat 28 Mar 2026

Results through 6 October 2026. Page updated 3 November 2026. How these numbers are calculated.