Zimbabwe head coach Michael Nees pointed out that Nigeria’s difficulties in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers can be attributed to frequent changes in coaching style. He believes that the Super Eagles inconsistent managerial decisions have affected their campaign from the outset.
Speaking after Zimbabwe’s training session in Uyo on Sunday, Nees acknowledged Nigeria’s wealth of talent but emphasized that the lack of stability in their coaching staff has hindered their progress.
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“Nigeria is halfway through the campaign. In terms of individual talent, they are absolutely top class,” Nees told the Warriors media team. “However, they have faced challenges from the start due to coaching instability.”
This is Nigeria’s third coach during the qualifiers. They recently secured a victory in Rwanda, a historically challenging opponent for them, which gives them confidence as they aim to turn things around—just as we are.
The Super Eagles began the qualifiers under the supervision of home-made coach Finidi George, followed by Austine Eguavoen before the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) appointed Eric Chelle in January in an effort to stabilise the team.
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The 47-year-old Malian led the three-time African champions to their winning start in his tenure thanks to Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen’s first-half brace, which gave Nigeria all three points in their second leg with the Rwanda sides.
Currently, the Super Eagles sits in fourth place in Group C with six points, while Zimbabwe is at the bottom of the table with three points. With both teams eager to revive their campaigns, their upcoming clash on Tuesday will be a decisive encounter.
