By Sports Writer
MICHAEL NEES says Zimbabweans need to be realistic as he seeks to guide the Warriors to their first win of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda this afternoon.
The Group C tie takes place at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Warriors are already out of the reckoning for a place at next year’s World Cup to be co-hosted by the United States of America, Mexico and Canada after failing to win any of their last seven Group matches.
They anchor the six-team log with only four points and will be seeking to save face by winning the last three games of this campaign, starting with the showdown against Rwanda. The Warriors fans have been left disappointed, especially after the team’s latest 1-0 defeat to Benin, and Nees on the other hand was left ranting.
“Let’s pull together in one direction towards positivity. We should stop this scapegoat ritual and bad mouthing of individuals. It’s not a country which won the African Cup of Nations three times,” he said.
“Let’s be positive. It’s not that easy a business. Yes, we must go through realism where we are coming from and pull together in one direction towards a positive aspect.
“We have to get somewhere, we have the talent. We are good, but only if we pull in one direction. Yes we lost to Benin 1-0 and they can go to the World Cup.”
Nees said the 2026 World Cup qualification, which he inherited from two other coaches who reigned on different occasions, Baltemar Brito and Jairos Tapera, was always a difficult task.
“This has always been a two-pronged project. We were chasing a World Cup appearance and also preparing for the AFCON. “So the AFCON is what is now there for us. We want to beat Rwanda tomorrow (today).
“We must be fair competitors because others are still there with a chance as well. So we must provide fair competition.”
With captain Marvelous Nakamba, Divine Lunga and Teenage Hadebe all suspended, Nees will name a new-look team with youngsters like Thando Ngwenya and Prosper Padera set to start.
Gerald Takwara will step in at centre-back to partner Munashe Garananga especially after Brendon Galloway sat out training together with Tino Kadewere.
Marshal Munetsi will lead the team in the absence of suspended Nakamba.
It will be interesting to see what Padera, Munetsi and Ngwenya will bring to the starting line-up compared to what the team offered against Benin in the 1-0 loss.
Despite the set-back, Nakamba insists team morale remains high.
And he believes those that will step into the fray in the absence of the injured and suspended players will still deliver.
“The players, I think the morale is high. Everyone is ready to go again,” said Nakamba. “We have spoken as a team about the match in Benin and now it’s water under the bridge.
“In football, there’s always another second chance. Luckily enough, we have a match tomorrow, so everyone in the camp is ready to push and support each other.”
Warriors Probable 11
Elvis Chipezeze, Emmanuel Jalai, Jordan Zemura, Gerald Takwara, Munashe Garananga, Prosper Padera, Marshal Munetsi, Knowledge Musona, Tawanda Chirewa, Tawanda Maswanhise, Thando Ngwenya
