Zimbabwe head coach Michael Nees has called on his players to rise to the occasion and play at full capacity when they face the Super Eagles.
Ahead of Tuesday's clash with the Super Eagles, the Warriors played out a draw against Benin, while their opponents secured their first victory of the qualifiers with a commanding 2-0 away win over Rwanda.
Stressing confidence and determination, Nees urged his squad to embrace the challenge, adapt to the conditions, and not be intimidated by their opponents.
‘Super Eagles' World Cup struggles their own fault'
Following Zimbabwe’s first training session at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, head coach Michael Nees emphasised the importance of mental toughness ahead of their crucial clash with the Super Eagles.
“Benin Republic was really strong, but Nigeria, with the names they parade, is top class, and they messed their campaign at the beginning really up,” Nees said, as shared by Brila.
“It would be an exciting game. We have to perform to our maximum, but we should expect a really tough opponent who will give everything, and we must also give everything,” he urged.
Despite the challenging conditions, Nees encouraged his squad to embrace the moment.
“We must accept the challenge, the climate, the pace, the conditions… We mustn’t be afraid of anything. We can play football, and we will,” he added, expressing his belief in the team’s ability to rise to the occasion.
The Warriors remain winless in their last five matches and currently sit at the bottom of Group C with just three points. Their previous encounter with the Super Eagles ended in a 1-1 stalemate in November 2023.
