Nigeria's rival in Group C of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Zimbabwe, have appointed Michael Nees as their new head coach.
While the Super Eagles are waiting for a new coach, the Brave Warriors have one, as announced by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA).
Zimbabwe seek to upset Super Eagles with new coach
The German tactician, who was officially unveiled on Thursday, has been handed a contract that will run until June 2026, marking a significant step for the Zimbabwean team as they look to build a strong squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Nees becomes the first substantive coach for the Warriors since Croatian Zdravko Logarusic parted ways with the federation in 2021.
His appointment comes at a crucial time for Zimbabwe, who are in the same World Cup qualifying group as Nigeria.
In their most recent encounter, Zimbabwe held the Super Eagles to a 1-1 draw at the Stade Huey in Butare, a match that was played in Rwanda due to Zimbabwe's lack of an approved stadium by CAF.
During that match, Zimbabwe took the lead with a stunning free-kick from Walter Musona in the 26th minute, leaving Nigerian goalkeeper Francis Uzoho stranded.
Nigeria managed to salvage a point with a second-half equalizer from Kelechi Iheanacho, who came off the bench to score in the 67th minute.
Commenting on his coaching philosophy, Nees stated, “The philosophy is to show respect to the opponents. We have to find a realistic strategy and a good game plan.
“In most cases, I like to dominate the game or at least dictate the pace. “the 57-year-old said.
Super Eagles qualification hopes in deep waters
The World Cup qualifiers will continue in March 2025, with Nigeria set to face both Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Currently, Nigeria sits fifth in Group C with three points from four games, while Zimbabwe is at the bottom with two points.
Rwanda leads the group with seven points, edging out Benin and South Africa on goal difference.
