MICHAEL Nees’ Warriors job got off to two tough assignments against Kenya and Cameroon in the Group J of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which were played in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.
Both matches ended goalless with the Warriors more impressive against group favourites Cameroon on Tuesday night. It was a match many, including some Zimbabweans if social media posts are anything to go by.
Many of the pre-match predictions were based on the history that Zimbabwe and Cameroon had met 11 times across all competitions and the Indomitable Lions dominated the rivalry by winning seven games compared to the Warriors’ three wins, while one match ended in a draw.
Also tipping the pre-match predictions in favour of Cameroon were the number of stars in their squad, led by Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana as seen by the big crowd of Ugandans, who support his team in the English Premier League, in the stadium.
It was encouraging that the Warriors did not let the Cameroonians’ player profiles and physical appearances overwhelm them as they battled up to the final whistle and could have actually won the game with a bit of composure in front of goal.
The Warriors put up a good fight and won plaudits from neutrals and own fans in what was a good start for Nees.
However, it was also a similar start for the Warriors under Brito Baltemar in November last year when the Warriors’ campaign in the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers got underway. The two matches played in Kigali, Rwanda yielded draws against the hosts and another West African heavyweight, Nigeria.
Wheels came off in South Africa when matches against Lesotho and South Africa ended in disappointing defeats that all but ended the Warriors’ interests in the campaign.
The problem was that the Zifa Normalisation Committee chose not to extend Brito’s contract and did not seem to have a plan as Jairos Tapera was only handed an interim role a few days before the matches in South Africa.
It is our hope that Zifa have learnt their lessons and will make sure that the upcoming matches against Namibia are given all the necessary attention, starting from preparations.
There will be 24 teams at the 2025 AFCON finals and it means the top two finishers in the 11 qualifying groups that do not involve tournament hosts Morocco will secure qualification to the competition.
For the Warriors to qualify, they need six points against Namibia and then avoid defeat at home to Kenya while not worrying about what happens in the reverse fixture away to Cameroon.
As such, Nees will need his strongest squad and anything else that he requires for the Warriors to beat Namibia back-to-back.
The matches in Kampala showed that the Warriors can make it to the finals, the foundation laid is solid enough.