The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has shown national team coach Michael Nees the exit door – just months before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
In a statement released on Wednesday, ZIFA confirmed that its Executive Committee convened and unanimously agreed to terminate Nees’ contract, thanking the German tactician for his “efforts and contributions to Zimbabwean football.”
“ZIFA remains firmly committed to strengthening its technical development programmes and ensuring continued progress in all areas of the game in line with its reform and restructuring agenda,” the statement read.
Nees, 57, is a German professional coach with a UEFA Pro Licence and an M.A. in Sports Science and Performance Physiology from the University of Heidelberg. With over 25 years of coaching experience across Africa, Europe, and Asia, Nees previously managed Rwanda and served as SAFA’s Director of Coaching and Education.
Though his contract was set to run until December, ZIFA opted for early termination, citing the need for “urgent change.” Nees made headlines earlier this year after nearly derailing Bafana Bafana’s 2026 World Cup ambitions, holding South Africa to a goalless draw in Durban.
However, results under his leadership told a grim story. Zimbabwe failed to win a single match in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign – scoring only three goals, conceding six, and finishing bottom of Group C. Since taking charge last year, Nees managed just two wins in 16 matches, both against Namibia in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
With Egypt, South Africa, and Angola awaiting them in Group A at AFCON 2025 in Morocco (kicking off December 21), the Warriors face an uphill battle.
Despite Nees’ pledge to modernize and rebuild Zimbabwe’s style of play, his tenure was marred by poor cohesion, tactical confusion, and dwindling morale – leaving the team without direction or identity.
Now, the onus falls on ZIFA to find a replacement capable of stabilizing the Warriors and restoring belief in less than two months before Africa’s biggest football showpiece.
