'We have to be fair' - Zimbabwe coach assures Nigeria, Benin they will give their best in WCQ v RSA

Zimbabwe head coach Michael Nees has assured that his side will approach their final 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture against South Africa with full commitment and professionalism despite being out of contention for qualification.

The Warriors, who sit bottom of Group C with four points, will face South Africa at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday.

Although the result will not alter their qualification fate, Nees insisted that his team will play for pride and uphold the integrity of the competition, especially as the outcome could influence the qualification hopes of other teams, including Nigeria and Benin.

In an interview with Gagasi FM, Nees dismissed the significance of the three-point deduction handed to Bafana Bafana for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho.

"For South Africa maybe but for us it is the same. For us, It's very important. It is a match which counts in the league table for the FIFA ranking," he said.

"In terms of psychological meaning for the AFCON because we play again and it's a derby."

Nees added that the team has discussed the need to compete honestly and wholeheartedly, regardless of their current position in the group.

"And on top of that four teams can qualify for the World Cup, the last thing you want to be accused of is somehow not giving your best," he added.

"We discuss that in length within the association, we have our responsibility is to be first sportsman and give everything that we have and to come out with our head held high."

The Zimbabwe coach also praised South Africa's progress under their current setup, noting that Bafana Bafana's consistency since the 2023 AFCON has made them one of the strongest teams on the continent.

"We have to be first sportsman. South Africa is a very strong team, the records speak for themselves in the last basically, since the second game in the last AFCON."

"Before it was not everything gold, there were a lot of noise but from the second game in the AFCON."

"The first game we lost that time against Mali but since that second game in the AFCON, the things change especially when we team went to the second round."

"Then it looked like some energy was released and the pressure was a little bit gone."

South Africa are currently second in Group C, level on points with leaders Benin.

They must secure victories against Zimbabwe and Rwanda to stand a chance to book a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Adeyemi Adewale

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