NO MORE EXPERIMENTS FOR WARRIORS

Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub

MICHAEL NEES is done with player assessments and squad experiments and wants the Warriors to now shift gears as they step up their act ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in December.

As the FIFA window for international fixtures closed yesterday, the German coach has demanded all-round performances from players at their respective clubs if they wish to be part of the Warriors set-up.

Nees revealed that there will be no more experiments going forward at the senior team level, as the Warriors look to start polishing their act ahead of the Nations Cup.

Zimbabwe, under Nees, are looking to end the jinx of not progressing beyond the group stage each time they have qualified for the biennial continental football show-piece.

And to widen his selection base for the AFCON in December, Nees put together two experimental national squads for the FIFA break and the annual COSAFA Cup.

He took with him the regular Warriors to Casablanca, Morocco, for two international friendlies against Burkina Faso on June 6 and Niger on June 10.

National Under-20 coach Simon Marange was then tasked with handling the developmental team, composed mainly of Under-23 players who were sent into battle at the COSAFA Cup in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

But the focus was always more on the regular Warriors, who were handed a 2-0 defeat by Burkina Faso before drawing 1-1 against Niger.

Marange’s men struggled at the COSAFA Cup, crashing out at the group stage after finishing second behind South Africa and ahead of Mozambique and Mauritius.

For Nees, the results from the two competitions were secondary, as he had emphasised the need to provide those players who have been hovering on the fringes of the Warriors a chance to fight for recognition and inclusion.

The Warriors gaffer reckoned that the two assignments in Morocco and South Africa served their purpose in terms of shaping his regular senior side.

While the team that he took to Morocco missed some of the notable figures who include Jordan Zemura, Marshal Munetsi, Divine Lunga, Andy Rinomhota, Knowledge Musona and Marvelous Nakamba, Nees was happy with what he saw from the crop that was in Casablanca.

He also expressed satisfaction with the rookie outfit that left it until late to find their rhythm at the COSAFA Cup, where they opened their campaign with a goalless draw against Mauritius, fell 2-0 to South Africa, and then beat Mozambique 3-1.

As the Warriors set off for their return home yesterday, Nees revealed his satisfaction with the exercise and is now convinced the senior side will have more depth going forward not least after the likes of Germany-based midfielder Jonah Fabisch and Sheffield Wednesday’s Sean Fusire acquitted themselves well.

“(Firstly), I think it was a fight (the friendlies), quite hectic, some fighting games really,’’ Nees said.

“Against Niger, I think we started to pass the ball around like we used to. We also brought in Khama Billiat and the match was much more flowing.

“We got the lead this time, we were more concentrated, really. I thought the goal gave us calmness.

“Jonah Fabisch played under me for the first time and he did well and he showed that he can really compete at this level.”

The former Seychelles and Kosovo coach added that inclusion into his Nations Cup would have to be merited and will not be an easy stroll in the park for any players dreaming of being in Morocco in December.

“To be in the squad, is going to be a tough fight and I am sure I cannot experiment anymore.

“Goalkeeper Marley (Tavaziva), I think everyone wanted to see him play. He can be number 3 or number 4, but if he is Number 6, it’s going to be difficult.

“This is the national team; I cannot give them match practice, and they should play in their squads,” Nees said.

Although he followed the COSAFA Cup from a distance, Nees hailed the competitive spirit of the largely youthful side and said he had taken note of outstanding performances from a couple of them whom he will consider for future Warriors assignments.

“I think we have one or two guys from the COSAFA squad that beat Mozambique who can also enter the stage. I think from that, we can have more depth in the squad. I think everyone should pull up their socks in the next six months.

“There will be no more experiments in the national team. The chance was now and from now on, the players should really pull their socks up.

“It was a big risk for me, it was a big risk also for the federation (ZIFA), but we discussed this before as we said we wanted to increase the depth of the squad this June period.

“You look at players like Isheanesu Mauchi. He is a good, dynamic and solid player. He is on a good way and I think for him, it was a big step forward.

“We had quite a number of players winning their first cap in the friendlies and they really showed up, Tawanda Macheke, Fusire and those players.”

With the June internationals done and dusted, Zimbabwe will now turn their attention to their remaining 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa, Lesotho, Rwanda and Benin in September and October.

But it is at the Nations Cup in Morocco where the Warriors stand a realistic chance of emerging from the group stages as their poor start to the World Cup qualifiers put paid to chances of being in the United States, Mexico and Canada for next year’s global football extravaganza.