2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Nees tasks Zimbabwe to give Super Eagles a tough fight

By Wale Mustapha

Zimbabwe head coach Michael Nees has urged his players to approach their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Nigeria with the intention to win, despite the Warriors’ challenging position in the standings.

The Warriors are set to face the Super Eagles in Matchday Six of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday in Uyo.

Currently sitting at the bottom of Group C with just three points from five matches, Zimbabwe is still in search of their first win in the qualifiers.

Nees acknowledged that his Southern African team has slim chances of qualification but emphasized the importance of continuing to fight until the end.

“Nobody can predict anything. As a sportsperson, you have to fight until the end because everybody wants a fair competition,” Nees told media.

“That’s number one. If you don’t do that, you shouldn’t play football. Second, the group is not decided yet. There’s still 15 points to play for, and we must take every game seriously.”

The match is set to take place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo at 5:00 PM local time, and Nees will be hoping his side can defy the odds and challenge the Super Eagles in what promises to be a tough encounter.