By Korede James
Warriors of Zimbabwe head coach Michael Nees has talked up his team’s qualities as they get set to face the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo on Tuesday.
Nees posited that his team are a quality side whose results have not matched their performances, leaving them bottom of African qualifying Group C.
“We are also a good team and we can have our self-confidence, our self-belief. And based on our performances, let’s see which team would be the better one on Tuesday,” Nees said during his pre-match press conference in Uyo.
“As a coach you don’t only look at the result, you also look at the performance. How your team perform on the pitch, how they react when things don’t go well, and I think we played a very good match against Benin Republic.
“It was high-level football match and we can take lots of positive things out from the match.”
The German believes Zimbabwe can still secure the six-team group’s only automatic World Cup ticket despite being bottom and seven points behind leaders South Africa.
“There’s always national pride when you play for the national team and you always have to give your best,” he said.
“There’s still 15 points to play for and until the games are over, you are obliged to give everything.
“Even any team that is theoretically not in the race to qualify anymore are also obliged to give their best because others are competing.
“We are obliged to give our best in every match and to be fair sportsmen, and as long we have a chance, we believe in ourselves.”
