Zimbabwe’s head coach, Michael Nees, has issued a stern warning to Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Republic of Benin ahead of their crucial FIFA World Cup qualifiers. With both Nigeria and Benin struggling to secure three points in the qualification campaign, Nees has made it clear that Zimbabwe is ready to fight for victory.
The Super Eagles currently sit in fifth place in the qualifiers, while the Benin Warriors are in sixth. Nigeria will take on Rwanda on Friday, while Zimbabwe faces Benin today before heading to Uyo for a high-stakes clash against the Super Eagles next Tuesday.
Speaking ahead of the matches, Nees emphasized his team’s determination to turn their qualification campaign around. The 57-year-old German coach acknowledged the challenges ahead but remained optimistic about Zimbabwe’s chances.
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“Two difficult games, first against Benin and then Nigeria. When you analyze the opponents, you see Benin has good quality, and as for Nigeria, we don’t even need to talk about their strength. But we must approach these matches with positivity, self-confidence, and the determination to deliver top performances,” Nees said, as quoted by Soccer24.
He further stressed the importance of using these fixtures to change Zimbabwe’s qualification trajectory. “We have to restart this qualification campaign in a positive way. We want to shift momentum, turn the page, and start moving up the table. That’s our approach. Our immediate focus is the challenge against Benin,” Nees added.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Super Eagles will be aiming to secure their first three points of the qualifiers against Rwanda tomorrow. A victory would boost their confidence ahead of their home fixture against Zimbabwe.
The last time Nigeria and Zimbabwe clashed, the match ended in a 1-1 draw. With both teams desperate to improve their standing in the qualifiers, the upcoming encounter in Uyo promises to be a fierce battle.
