Zimbabwe coach Michael Nees says his team will do South Africa any favours when they lock horns for their Group C 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Durban on October 10th, Afrosport reports.
South Africa need victory at the Moses Mabhida Stadium to keep up their hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in North America after they were deducted three points and three goals for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho.
Zimbabwe will be the home team for the encounter as they have no stadium in their country that meets FIFA standards, hence is considered a massive bonus for Bafana Bafana.
Nees, stated the Warriors will try to win their remaining two fixtures even as they have no chance of qualifying as they sit bottom of the standings with eight from four games.
He said: “We cannot just experiment here and there because this would be almost interpreted as unfair competition, and we cannot afford that. Fifa is looking at us.
“Also, the group is so tight – it could be that in the final game, four teams are separated only by one goal. Imagine! So we are responsible for the situation we find ourselves in, but others are responsible for their own situations. This is football.
“Especially against South Africa, there’s a lot at stake. We want to represent the country with pride and patriotism and in the best possible way, against one of the top five teams in Africa. And it will be a full house, packed.
“Bear in mind, we have one objective. We want to perform well at the Afcon. We want to go to the second round for the first time and then see how far it can carry us.
“That’s our objective, like any other team in the group. We are in a difficult group, no doubt, but we have good reasons to believe in ourselves.”
HAPPENING NOW: Warriors Squad Announcement ⚽🇿🇼
The Coach has named his Warriors squad set to face South Africa and Lesotho in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.#ZIFA #Zimbabwe #SouthAfrica #Lesotho #Warriors #FIFA #WorldCup #Qualifiers#SquadAnnouncement #Football… pic.twitter.com/EWPvRPjFkM
— Zimbabwe Football Association (@online_zifa) September 30, 2025
Zimbabwe will conclude their World Cup qualifying campaign against Lesotho in Polokwane, three days after the South Africa tie.
