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The nation has sacked coach after poor World Cup qualifiers as it seeks new leadership ahead of AFCON 2025 that will be held in Morocco.
Zimbabwe have fired their German coach Michael Nees after a disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign and only two months before the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals, the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) confirmed.
Nees, who had been at the helm for 14 months, led the Warriors to qualification for the AFCON finals in Morocco but failed to inspire the team during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Zimbabwe ended last in their group, drawing three and losing three of the six matches under Nees’s guidance.
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Overall, Nees won just two of the 14 games he oversaw since his appointment in August last year. The lackluster World Cup showing ultimately sealed his fate, leaving ZIFA scrambling for a replacement before the continental tournament.
Zimbabwe now face a crucial task: finding a new coach in time for the Cup of Nations, where they are set to play Egypt in their opening Group B game in Agadir on December 22.
Michael Nees, 58, has previously held national team roles in Africa with Seychelles and Rwanda and worked as a technical director in Israel and Kosovo. His career, while extensive, could not prevent Zimbabwe from underperforming on the international stage.
Nees had also been in the spotlight earlier when he defended the officiating during Zimbabwe’s goalless draw against Kenya in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. His then counterpart, Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat, had accused referee Diouf Adalbert of Senegal of unfairly favoring Zimbabwe during the match in Kampala.
“I think one time they wanted to die for a penalty. But the coaching bench position is not the best to really evaluate a referee’s performance. It’s very subjective. You may understand; I had a better view. But solid, no real mistakes, and a good game from him,” Nees said.
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Friendly Fixtures Against Algeria and Qatar Set
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In a separate development, ZIFA has announced that the Warriors will play international friendlies against Algeria and Qatar as part of AFCON preparations.
ZIFA President Nqobile Magwizi confirmed the agreement, which comes after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, represented by Permanent Secretary Moses Mhike.
“We wanted fixtures that truly test our mettle,” said President Magwizi.
“Algeria and Qatar represent the calibre of opposition we must face to measure our readiness for AFCON, and the choice of these friendlies was deliberate.”
The matches aim to strengthen team cohesion, test tactical systems, and provide the technical team with opportunities to evaluate the squad before the continental tournament.
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Nees had also commented on specific incidents during the Kenya game.
“The yellow card against Khama [Billiat] was correct, yes. Against Gerrard [Takwara], yes, you can give. He didn’t overreact because their bench was always jumping up with every referee’s decision, so he stayed calm. I think the referee had a good game. He didn’t get nervous or so,” Nees said.
Despite Nees defending the officiating, Firat’s earlier criticism suggested a level of frustration that underscored Zimbabwe’s ability to frustrate strong opposition, a pattern that drew attention to the team’s inconsistent performances.