Warriors Coach Michael Nees Set to Announce Squad for World Cup Qualifiers

Zimbabwe’s senior men’s national football team, the Warriors, is set to unveil its squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers this Wednesday.

Head coach Michael Nees is expected to name his selection during a press conference, sources at ZIFA have confirmed.

The Warriors remain the only team in Group C yet to release a provisional squad ahead of next week’s crucial qualifiers. Zimbabwe is scheduled to face Benin on March 20 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in South Africa before traveling to Nigeria for a tough encounter against the Super Eagles five days later.

While both Benin and Nigeria have already announced their squads, Zimbabwean fans are still in the dark about which players will make the cut for these critical matches.

A ZIFA insider revealed that the delay in announcing the squad was partly due to injuries affecting key players.

“The coach was supposed to release the squad last week, but some issues, including injuries to some selected players, forced him to reassess his options,” said the source.

Among those ruled out is national team captain Marvelous Nakamba, who plays for Luton Town in England’s Championship. Nakamba suffered a calf muscle injury that will keep him sidelined for about six weeks.

Veteran goalkeeper Washington Arubi, who plays for Marumo Gallants in South Africa, has also been deemed unavailable, as confirmed by his club earlier this week. Arubi was a key figure in Zimbabwe’s AFCON Qualifiers campaign, conceding only four goals in six matches.

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Additionally, England-based defender Brendan Galloway is out for the rest of the season due to an injury, according to his club Plymouth Argyle.

Zimbabwe has yet to secure a win in their ongoing World Cup Qualifiers campaign. Currently, the team sits at the bottom of Group C with just two points from four matches.

The upcoming games will mark Nees’ first official matches in charge since his appointment in July last year. The Warriors began their qualification journey under former Highlanders coach Baltemar Brito, securing two draws against Rwanda and Nigeria. Jairos Tapera then took over for the next two matches against Lesotho and South Africa, both of which ended in defeats.

Group C Standings

1. Rwanda – 7 points
2. South Africa – 7 points
3. Benin – 7 points
4. Lesotho – 5 points
5. Nigeria – 3 points
6. Zimbabwe – 2 points

The Warriors will be hoping to turn their fortunes around in these upcoming fixtures and revive their qualification hopes.