Nees details Warriors’ motivation in frustrating Bafana Bafana

Zimbabwe coach Michael Nees has revealed the drive behind the Warriors’ gritty performance that secured a 0-0 draw against Bafana Bafana on Friday, significantly hindering South Africa’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.

The hard-fought stalemate at Moses Mabhida Stadium was a testament to the Warriors’ resilience and patience, much to the frustration of Hugo Broos’ side, who threw everything at the Zimbabwean defence.

The result leaves Bafana Bafana’s World Cup hopes precariously balanced. They must now beat Rwanda in their final group match while simultaneously hoping that Nigeria defeats Group C leaders Benin on Tuesday, October 14th. Benin currently leads the group with 17 points, Bafana is second with 15 points, and Nigeria sits third with 14 points.

Draw For Nees Against Bafana a Key Test for AFCON

For Coach Nees, avoiding defeat was a major morale boost, viewing the match as a crucial measure of his team’s capabilities ahead of the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco. Zimbabwe has been drawn into Group B for the AFCON, where they will once again face South Africa, alongside Angola and Egypt.

Nees emphasised that the spirited draw against a high-stakes South African side sends a clear message about their aspirations for the continental championship.

“I must admit, we could have done better, but actually, that’s what we need to expect from the team and what they expect from themselves,” Nees stated, making his ambitions clear.

“I want to say it again, we don’t want to go to Morocco and be tourists there. We want to be there [in Marrakech] on New Year’s Eve, because the second round starts in the new year.”

“That is our ambition, our target, we’re working towards that,” he continued. While acknowledging the inevitable “ups and downs,” Nees remains hopeful about the long-term progress.

He concluded by praising his team’s strong showing: “I don’t think many teams today could have come to South Africa in a full house like this and get a draw. And we were there from the performance, from the attitude and also from the skills, I’m satisfied.”

World Cup Finale a Mere Formality

The Warriors will wrap up their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign on Tuesday against Lesotho. However, with both teams already eliminated from contention for the global showpiece, the match serves purely as a formality.