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Tadious Manyepo in Uyo, Nigeria

THE Warriors will roll the 2026 World Cup qualification dice one more time in a now-or-never showdown against Nigeria, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium this evening.

The match kicks-off at 6pm.
Zimbabwe’s chances of sealing a spot at the global showpiece, for the first time ever, are hanging by the thinnest of threads.

Sitting bottom of Group C with only three points, seven behind leaders South Africa with five games of the campaign remaining, Zimbabwe have to beat Nigeria in the punishing Akwa Ibom conditions to keep crawling around the mix.

It has proven to be a tough venture for the Warriors, who are winless in the campaign under three different coaches including the incumbent Michael Nees, whose only contribution was a come-from-behind 2-2 draw against Benin in South Africa, last Thursday.

The Warriors will have to bring their best in today’s contest, especially after Nigeria decided to peg the entry fee at a measly US$0.65c to ensure their supporters fill the compact 30 000-seater facility to the rafters.

They have also dangled 500 free replicas for the early birds all to ensure they have the maximum support as they quest to keep up the pace with Bafana Bafana who enjoy a four-point cushion over them.
Nees knows the environment will be massive and Nigeria will be in no mood to drop any points.
But the German gaffer is largely unfazed.

“We are certainly looking forward to the game against Nigeria in this nice stadium.
“We are coming from a tough game against Benin. It was a really good contest. But now Nigeria, you see, it’s halfway through the campaign and Nigeria from the individual areas, from the names, it’s top class, absolutely top class,” said Nees.

“And they messed their campaign at the beginning really up. There’s the third coach (Eric Chelle) now involved in this campaign. They have now won in Rwanda, which was for them. I think they are always a little bit difficult opponent, really.

“So, they will come now with confidence and with all their power and all what they want to turn this campaign around. But so do we. It is going to be an exciting game. We have to perform to our maximum, for sure.

“We can expect a real tough opponent giving everything. They must accept the challenge. But, we have to also give everything and we will.”

Nees challenged the players to take up the challenge, the climate, the pace, the conditions.
Nees said he has the quality in his ranks to help break the Nigerians.
“You mustn’t be afraid of anything. There’s no reason for it. We can play football. We have analysed the opponent. We have analysed our game. The players give instructions and they can believe in themselves,” added Nees.

He called on the boys to hold their nerves.
“They have showed it already many times that they are very good players, very good characters, and I’m really looking forward to this game. That will be a real football match. I don’t know how many spectators, but could be 30 000. I don’t know,” said Nees.

Nees could be making changes to the starting 11 from the previous encounter against Benin last Thursday.
Walter Musona, an unused substitute in the tie against Benin, could finally get to line-up alongside his brother, Knowledge in an international match.

Knowledge who has made a U-turn from a two-year retirement marked his comeback with a fine goal that ensured a share of the spoils against the Benin Cheetahs.

But he never got to be on the pitch with his younger brother Walter, a local football hero having won the Soccer Star of the Year prize twice inside the past three years.

The brothers might start the match as Walter looks very much in line to replace Khama Billiat who missed Sunday’s training session as he was down with a flu bout.

Tawanda Chirewa could also be drafted in for Prince Dube.

Probable Line-Up
Washington Arubi, Emmanuel Jalai, Divine Lunga, Munashe Garananga, Gerald Takwara, Marshal Munetsi, Andy Rinomhota, Jordan Zemura, Walter Musona, Tawanda Chirewa, Knowledge Musona