Zimbabwe’s coach, Michael Nees has expressed confidence in his team’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Following a dramatic 1-1 draw against Nigeria on Tuesday, Nees compared Zimbabwe’s prospects to those of the Super Eagles.
The match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo saw Nigeria dominate play for much of the game. Despite their control, the Super Eagles struggled to convert chances into goals, finally breaking through in the 74th minute with a strike from Victor Osimhen.
Zimbabwe, however, refused to back down. In the dying moments of the match, Tawanda Chirewa scored an equalizer in the 90th minute, earning the Warriors a crucial away point. The draw marked the second stalemate between the two sides in the qualification campaign.
Speaking after the match, Nees appeared upbeat about his team’s performance and their World Cup hopes.
“I said before that the World Cup qualification is over when it is over. If it is over for us, then it is over for Nigeria also,” he declared.
His remarks drew laughter from some Nigerian journalists, but Nees responded sharply. “You’re laughing. How many points do you (Nigeria) have?” he asked
The result leaves both teams with work to do in the remaining fixtures, as they aim to secure a spot at football’s biggest event. With spirited performances like this, Zimbabwe has shown they won’t be pushovers in the road to 2026.
