Zimbabwe’s national football team coach, Michael Nees, remains hopeful that the Warriors can still secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, even if their route requires navigating the extended qualification process.
Currently sitting at the bottom of Group C with just four points, nine behind group leaders South Africa, Zimbabwe’s hopes of clinching the group’s sole automatic qualification slot are slim.
Their recent performances, however, have shown resilience, as they fought back from two-goal deficits to earn draws against Benin and Nigeria.
The Warriors salvaged a 2-2 draw against Benin last Thursday at Moses Mabhida Stadium before Tawanda Chirewa’s last-minute equaliser denied Nigeria a win in their most recent fixture.
While catching up with South Africa for automatic qualification seems unlikely, Nees remains optimistic that his squad can still qualify via the play-offs.
Speaking on the team’s prospects, Nees acknowledged the difficulty of their situation but insisted they will continue giving their all.
“We know we are in a tough group, and we qualified for AFCON, which is something to be proud of. As long as there’s still a mathematical chance for World Cup qualification, we will fight for it, no matter who we face,” he stated.
The coach emphasised the unpredictability of the qualification process, pointing out that the race for the play-off spots remains open. “Some groups have only four teams, so you do not even know which second-placed teams will make it until the final whistle of the last game.”
He also praised his players for their resilience in recent matches, highlighting their ability to turn difficult situations around.
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“In the Benin match, we started poorly and made costly mistakes, but we responded well. Against Nigeria, our goalkeeper was outstanding. That is the kind of performance I want to see determination and fighting spirit,” Nees said.
Reflecting on the match against Nigeria, Nees believed the Warriors could have won had they been given a few more minutes.
“We understood how Nigeria would approach the game. They had gained confidence from their previous win and wanted to turn their qualification campaign around. But we also knew that as the game progressed, they would slow down,” he explained.
The Warriors’ late goal demonstrated their ability to compete with top teams, something Nees considers a testament to their growth.
“We showed that we do not give up. If we had just two or three more minutes, we might have secured the win. We did not just sit back and defend; we played football,” he added.
Nees also acknowledged the tough playing conditions, including the intense heat and humidity, but praised his team’s ability to manage their energy levels strategically.
“You can not play high-intensity football for 90 minutes in those conditions. Even at AFCON in Cameroon, no team could sustain that. So, we had to be smart, conserve our energy, and capitalise on opportunities,” he said.
The Warriors will now shift their focus to their remaining four qualifiers in September and October, where they face South Africa, Lesotho, Rwanda, and Benin in reverse fixtures.
Despite the uphill battle, Nees insists the qualification campaign is far from over.
“The pressure is more on Nigeria and other big teams. If we are out of the race, then so are they. Until the final match is played, nothing is decided,” he declared.
Remaining Fixtures
- Benin vs Zimbabwe – 1 September 2025
- Zimbabwe vs Rwanda – 8 September 2025
- Zimbabwe vs South Africa – 6 October 2025
- Lesotho vs Zimbabwe – 13 October 2025
