Nees proud of Warriors

Zimbabwe's Warriors coach, Michael Nees, expressed pride in his team's performance despite a narrow 2-1 loss to African giants Cameroon in their final Group J match at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on Tuesday.

This defeat marked the Warriors' first loss of the campaign and Nees' first since taking over as head coach in August. Despite the result, the Warriors displayed remarkable resilience against the five-time AFCON champions, playing a brilliant second half and almost securing a draw.

The match was particularly challenging for Zimbabwe, who had just completed a grueling 35-hour flight and had only one training session ahead of the game. Nees acknowledged the difficult circumstances his team faced but praised their character throughout the match.

"Today was the ultimate character test for us," Nees said in his post-match comments. "We came in the most difficult of situations: 35 hours of travel, no training, and we had to release our vice-captain Marshall Munetsi, our midfield engine, due to injury. We had two defenders missing, and we managed to cope under difficult circumstances in the afternoon sun."

Nees continued, "I told them that if you are able to give a real challenge today, then we don't need to be afraid of anybody. Honestly, I am very proud of them. They showed good character, not only the players but everybody around the team. They pulled in one direction and we were a clear unit."

The Warriors' slow start to the game saw them go two goals down in the first half, with goals from Cameroon's Vincent Aboubakar and Georges-Kévin N'Koudou. However, Zimbabwe fought back, and a late goal by Terrence Dzvukamanja made for a nervy finish, though it was controversially flagged offside.

"We wanted to keep the game open until the 60th minute. That was our tactical objective," Nees explained. "We hoped that the difference would be one goal or a draw. The finishing could have been better, but sometimes it's just those small details—lack of accuracy, energy, concentration, or maybe the pressure from defenders. If we had changed our gear earlier, I think we could have done better."

Despite the defeat, Nees remained upbeat, highlighting the team's spirit and their ability to challenge a top African side like Cameroon under difficult conditions. "The deficit was too much," Nees admitted. "One goal, I think we could have turned it around. Two goals are very difficult, especially against a team like Cameroon. They get more confident even when you make mistakes, knowing they are still ahead."

The Warriors finished the group stage in second place with nine points from six matches, while Cameroon topped the group with 14 points. Zimbabwe's return to the AFCON finals, after missing out on the 2023 edition due to a FIFA ban, marks an important achievement in the team's development under Nees.

The coach's comments reflect a sense of pride in his squad's growth and commitment, with the Warriors now turning their attention to future AFCON competition, where they will look to build on this performance.