Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
AS ZIMBABWE shift focus to the international friendly match against Niger in Casablanca tomorrow evening, one thing that coach Michael Nees should also consider is the impact of the games on the FIFA rankings.
The German coach has spoken at length about the need to try fresh legs and to integrate new players into his system using the two international friendly matches in Morocco against Burkina Faso and Niger during the June FIFA window which closes tomorrow.
The two international friendly matches are key for preparations for the 2025 AFCON finals scheduled for December in the North African country where Zimbabwe will be among the 24 finalists.
While the jury is still out on the Warriors’ performance following the 0-2 loss to Burkina Faso in the first friendly match last Friday, attention has shifted to the clash against Niger set for the Stade Père Jégo in Casablanca.
There is room for more experimentation for the Warriors coach against Zaki Badou’s side, which is also camping in Morocco.
Niger began their leg of the June international friendlies with a 4-3 win over Gabon in Casablanca on the same day Zimbabwe played Burkina Faso.
But Zimbabwe, missing a number of their regulars were no match for the Burkinabe, who had almost a full complement of their star players for their two international friendlies against the Warriors and Tunisia.
The defeat though is not likely to have a major effect on the Warriors’ rankings as they are ranked way below the West Africans.
Zimbabwe are currently ranked 116th in the world and 30th in Africa. In contrast, Burkina Faso are ranked 64th on the global rankings and 12th in Africa.
But a defeat to Niger tomorrow could compound Zimbabwe’s ranking woes. Niger are ranked 122nd in the world and 33rd on the continent.
Their victory over Gabon last Friday earned them rating points in the ranking system.
Zimbabwe were ranked 129th when Nees took over last year. While they have made positive strides upwards, concerns are building over the win ratio.
The Warriors have played nine games under Nees and won only twice when they beat Namibia back-to-back during the 2025 AFCON qualifiers. Zimbabwe have played five draws under the 57-year-old coach’s charge and lost two.
The Warriors managed to qualify for the AFCON finals under Nees from a group that included Kenya, Namibia and Cameroon.
He was involved in two FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers and drew both against Benin (2-2) and Nigeria (1-1) after taking over a campaign that had begun with two draws and as many losses before his appointment.
While Zimbabwe, who sit at the bottom of Group C in the CAF World Cup qualifiers, have next to zero chances of qualifying for the global show-piece, Nees has decided to give attention to the 2025 AFCON finals.
The two international friendly matches against Burkina Faso and Niger are part of the grand scheme. Nees left out a number of key players like Marvelous Nakamba, Knowledge Musona, Marshall Munetsi, Andy Rinomhota, Tawanda Chirewa and Divine Lunga and last Friday gave three new players their first international caps.
It appears results from these two international friendlies are not a priority although they come with a price on FIFA rankings and the coach’s overall rating.
“We had many regular players missing,” he explained after the defeat to Burkina Faso.
“We wanted to give players a chance; four players got the first cap. Others, I saw for the first time. I think there were three or four more who earned the first cap under me. So, from that against a strong opponent, and at the end we actually, I think we really dominated the game. We must learn out of it and move forward,” he said.
Ahead of the match against Niger, Nees is looking forward to an improved performance. He was not impressed by a number of mistakes made by his team.
“We had many new players. We wanted to look at new players. We wanted to increase the pool of competition. But what we have to definitely change is the concentration, the attitude at the beginning of the matches.
“This is something that hurts us very often. Absolutely. We had at the beginning some passing mistakes and ball control mistakes, some decision mistakes, simple mistakes.
“And that we have to correct for sure,” he said.
