Zimbabwe fire coach after poor World Cup qualifying campaign
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Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup - CAF Qualifiers - Group C - Zimbabwe v South Africa - Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa - October 10, 2025 Zimbabwe coach Michael Nees reacts REUTERS/Rogan Ward
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HARARE - Zimbabwe have fired their German coach Michael Nees after a disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign and only two months before they play at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, the Zimbabwe Football Association said.
Nees had been in the job for 14 months, ensuring Zimbabwe's qualification for the Cup of Nations finals in Morocco. He then oversaw the last six matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, in which they ended last in their group, having drawn three and lost three.
Overall, he won two of 14 games he was in charge of since being appointed in August last year.
Zimbabwe must now find a new coach in time for the Cup of Nations, where they face Egypt in their opening Group B game in Agadir on December 22.
The 58-year-old Nees had previous national team jobs in Africa with Seychelles and Rwanda and was technical director in Israel and Kosovo. REUTERS
