Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
DESPITE the criticism that has followed the defeat to Burkina Faso in their international friendly last Friday, Warriors coach Michael Nees says it is important to strike the right balance between winning and the mission he set out to achieve with his team during the trip to Morocco in preparation for the 2025 AFCON finals.
Nees will lead Zimbabwe in their second international friendly match, scheduled for this June FIFA window, when they play Niger this evening at the Stade Père Jégo in Casablanca, Morocco.
The Warriors have been camping in the North African country since last week. They played Burkina Faso last Friday and lost 0-2, igniting mixed reactions among the football stakeholders back home.
However, Nees said he has not departed from his original plan to play as many players as possible with the view to grow the Warriors pool ahead of the 2025 AFCON set for December in Morocco. most
“That was discussed even before the camp with one other player and it was clear before the camp, irrespective of the result.
“Our mission here is to enlarge the pool of players. We’re missing around eight to ten first-choice players, most likely six to seven starters,” said Nees.
The Warriors’ technical team omitted half a dozen regulars from the squad that travelled to Morocco. Last Friday Nees gave three new players — Mason Mushore, Sean Fusire and Tawanda Macheke — their first Warriors caps and is looking to integrate more fresh legs today.
“Tomorrow (today), maybe even more and it’s very important,” he said.
“We need to prepare ourselves for such a situation in case you have injuries in November or December; key player injuries, or you have a dip in shape, a dramatic dip in shape or a suspended player in the tournament.
“We need to have this group enlarged. That was our mission here and also with the COSAFA Cup team. The young team there, we also think we will find one or two interesting players, which we will put more of an eye on. I think that was our mission.”
Zimbabwe have another team comprising mostly players under the age of 23 participating in the COSAFA tournament. However, results have eluded both teams during this FIFA window.
He is looking for improvements from his team this evening against Niger, who are under the tutelage of Moroccan legend Badou Zaki.
“Yeah, every match you want to win and it’s very important, but you mustn’t also forget the development aspects,” Nees explained.
“But of course, when we are on the pitch, we do everything and I’m quite confident that the boys tomorrow (today) will be really a completely new team, which I’m sure never played like that before, and that they give everything and try everything to win that game,” said Nees.
The German coach has a full contingent of his players available for selection, including midfielder Khama Billiat who missed a day of training at the weekend because of knocks he picked up against Burkina Faso.
The Warriors have been working on the weaknesses exposed by the Stallions.
“We need to be more alert at the beginning,” said Nees.
“We need to be more concentrated at the beginning. We will change a little bit of our routine from time management up to warming up. We definitely have to improve that, and I think that’s something that we have to focus on.
“We have also of course to have more accuracy and finishing. We had a few very good scoring opportunities towards the end, but even in the first half a little bit more determination, a little bit more courage and a little bit more accuracy. Sometimes that can help to get a better result.”
Niger, despite being ranked behind Zimbabwe on the FIFA charts, are not push overs. They beat Gabon, a side that is highly ranked, 4-3 in their first international friendly match in Casablanca last Friday.
