Football

ZIFA Fires Warriors Coach Michael Nees After World Cup Qualifying Disaster

Harare – The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has officially parted ways with Warriors head coach Michael Nees following a disastrous 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign that saw Zimbabwe finish bottom of Group C with no wins in ten matches.

Published

4 months ago

October 22, 2025

Adelaide Kuudzerema

By Sports Reporter

Appointed in July 2024, Nees was handed a dual mandate: to secure qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and to build a competitive squad for the World Cup qualifiers. While he successfully led the team to AFCON qualification, his performance in the World Cup campaign was deemed unacceptable by the ZIFA Executive Committee.

Zimbabwe’s Group C opponents included Benin, Lesotho, South Africa, Rwanda, and Nigeria. The Warriors failed to register a single win, drawing five matches and losing five, ending the campaign with just five points out of a possible 30. The team’s only victories under Nees came in back-to-back friendlies against Namibia, a side ranked significantly lower in the FIFA standings.

In a statement released Wednesday evening, ZIFA confirmed the termination of Nees’ contract with immediate effect:

“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) wishes to inform all stakeholders and members of the public that the Executive Committee has resolved to terminate the contract of Mr. Michael Nees with immediate effect.

The Association takes this opportunity to sincerely thank Mr. Nees for his efforts and contributions to Zimbabwean football during his tenure. His dedication to the game and his service to the national structures are appreciated.”

ZIFA emphasized its commitment to technical development and restructuring, promising further updates on interim arrangements and the transition process in due course.

The search for Nees’ replacement is expected to begin immediately, with pressure mounting on ZIFA to find a candidate capable of restoring national pride and preparing the Warriors for AFCON 2025.

Related Topics:Michael Nees ZIFA Zimbabwe Football Association

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Wednesday have signed Marvelous Nakamba on a free transfer 🦉

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🔗 https://t.co/poSVzvSHPf pic.twitter.com/mlGdRWAriR
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) February 2, 2026