Warriors Coach Nees Praises Bafana Bafana as He Eyes World Cup Turnaround

Zimbabwe’s national team coach, Michael Nees, has lauded Bafana Bafana and their Belgian tactician Hugo Broos as a model team in African football. Nees made the remarks as Zimbabwe prepares to revive their hopes in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

South Africa has done really well under Broos. They got seven points from their first four games and didn't lose any matches in their latest Afcon qualifying rounds. They even came in third place during that time.

In contrast, the Warriors have struggled, earning just two points from their opening matches. Despite their challenges, Nees remains optimistic about Zimbabwe’s prospects.

“Honestly, it’s not yet all lost in the World Cup qualifiers. We have to do everything to turn the shape around in our matches against Benin and Nigeria in March,” Nees told FARPost.

In order to turn around their fortunes, he underlined the significance of togetherness, match fitness, and intelligent player selection. "We need players who are match-fit when we choose them. At least three or four league games must have been played by them," he said.

Nees pointed to Bafana’s courage and fighting spirit as qualities Zimbabwe must emulate. “They are the model. We need to copy what they do and study how they do it,” he said.

Zimbabwe’s chances in the qualifiers may be slim, but their qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco offers a glimmer of hope.

Upcoming Fixtures

• Bafana Bafana: Host Lesotho on March 17, 2025.
• Zimbabwe: Face Benin on March 19, 2025.

As both countries get ready for the next part of the World Cup qualifiers, Zimbabwe wants to gain more confidence, while Bafana hopes to improve their standing in Group C.