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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.

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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.

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.

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Football

Arsenal Beat Chelsea to Reach Carabao Cup Final

Arsenal secured their place in the Carabao Cup final after defeating Chelsea 1–0 in the second leg of the semi-final at the Emirates Stadium. The victory sealed a 4–2 aggregate win for the Gunners, booking their first domestic cup final appearance since 2020.

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Kai Havertz

Arsenal secured their place in the Carabao Cup final after defeating Chelsea 1–0 in the second leg of the semi-final at the Emirates Stadium. The victory sealed a 4–2 aggregate win for the Gunners, booking their first domestic cup final appearance since 2020.

The reigning Premier League leaders will face either Manchester City or Newcastle United in the final, scheduled for March 22, 2026, at Wembley Stadium.

Arsenal’s disciplined performance ensured they held off Chelsea’s late pressure, with the decisive goal in the 97th minute by Kai Havertz proving enough to send Mikel Arteta’s side through to a much-anticipated showdown at Wembley.

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Football

Nakamba Signs with Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday, a Championship (English second-tier) club, has signed Zimbabwe international Marvelous Nakamba on a deal until the end of the season after he was released by League One (English third tier) side Luton Town FC.

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Sheffield Wednesday, a Championship (English second-tier) club, has signed Zimbabwe international Marvelous Nakamba on a deal until the end of the season after he was released by League One (English third tier) side Luton Town FC.

The club confirmed the latest development on their social media platforms.

Sheffield Wednesday are currently at the bottom of the table (24th place) with –7 points after 29 matches.

The Sky Bet Championship club was last year deducted 12 points for multiple breaches of EFL regulations relating to the payment of players.

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When Moroccan Journalists Walked Out… A Sad Day for AFCON and Media Ethics

On Sunday night, Senegal etched their name into African football history by clinching their second AFCON trophy in a decade. Led by captain Sadio Mané, the Lions of Teranga defeated hosts Morocco 1–0 in a dramatic final that will be remembered for both its footballing brilliance and its controversies.

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On Sunday night, Senegal etched their name into African football history by clinching their second AFCON trophy in less than five years, having won the previous one in 2021. Led by Sadio Mané, the Lions of Teranga defeated hosts Morocco 1–0 in a dramatic final that will be remembered for both its footballing brilliance and its controversies.

By Tongai Mwenje

The decisive moment came in the 94th minute when Pape Gueye struck the winning goal, sending Senegalese fans into wild celebrations. Just minutes earlier, the match had been overshadowed by a contentious penalty awarded to Morocco while the score was still goalless.

In protest against the decision, Senegal coach Pape Thiaw and his players, except captain Mané, walked off the pitch, halting the game for nearly fifteen minutes. Eventually, they returned to allow Morocco to take the spot kick. Real Madrid’s Brahim Díaz stepped up to face Senegal’s goalkeeper, former Chelsea man Édouard Mendy. Attempting a Panenka, Díaz saw his effort easily saved, setting the stage for Gueye’s late strike that sealed Senegal’s triumph.

The drama did not end on the pitch. When the victorious coach Thiaw arrived for his post-match press conference, smiling, holding a young girl, and waving to foreign journalists who applauded him, the local Moroccan press staged a walkout. Packing up their equipment, they exited the room, leaving behind a scene of confusion and disappointment. The press conference was ultimately cancelled.

This act of protest by Moroccan journalists blurred the line between professional reporting and activism. Journalism is guided by ethics, truth, fairness, independence, and accountability. Walking out rather than questioning the coach directly undermined these principles. If concerns existed, they should have been raised through dialogue, not through symbolic gestures that silenced the exchange of information.

By abandoning their role as impartial observers, the journalists acted more like activists than professionals. Their behaviour cast a shadow over what should have been a celebration of African football and highlighted the importance of media ethics in safeguarding the integrity of the profession.

It was, indeed, a sad day for the beautiful game.

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