daniel chigunwe
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THERE are still 11 months before the Warriors plunge into their sixth Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco and coach Michael Nees believes with good preparation, Zimbabwe will be able to stand their ground and progress to the second round for the first time.
The German coach was a satisfied man after seeing the draw conducted in the host nation, Morocco, on Monday night, as his Warriors were placed in Group B, where they will face old enemies South Africa, Angola, and North African giants Egypt.
It is a group that promises fireworks, given that Zimbabwe, Angola, and South Africa enjoy a COSAFA rivalry that has spanned more than 25 years.
Just like Nees, Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos of South Africa and Egypt’s Hossam Hassan yesterday also came out bullish about their teams’ chances.
The tournament will take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Zimbabwe are going to the AFCON finals for the sixth time but are yet to proceed beyond the group stage.
They qualified for the coming edition on the back of an encouraging run that saw them losing only once to group winners Cameroon in the last match of the campaign last November.
Ordinarily, the huge time gap between the end of the qualifiers and the final tournament should come as a worrying factor, but this could be a blessing in disguise as it gives teams time to focus and prepare.
Nees, who is no stranger to duels with South Africa, told the ZIFA media yesterday that proper preparation will be key ahead of the AFCON 2025 battles.
“We need to be up to the challenge straight from the beginning, but with good preparations we can meet the challenge,” said Nees.
“As any other team, we want to go to the second round.
“We respect our opponents, but we have all the self-belief in our own strength and skills to achieve this objective. The tournament will set new standards for an AFCON, I am sure, and the conditions and facilities will be quite fair and equal for all the teams,” said Nees.
With three teams in the group hailing from the COSAFA region, familiarity could be a huge determinant.
“No secrets here; the teams know each other very well. A derby against rivals Bafana Bafana again, and a clash with a skilful Angola side that have a different playing style.
“Not to mention North African powerhouses Egypt, record champions and one of the tournament favourites, who will come to Morocco definitely with all their stars and their best team.
“In my opinion, it’s a very balanced, strong, and competitive group.”
Zimbabwe will play their first match against the Pharaohs in Aghadir, then face Angola and Bafana Bafana in the last group game in Marakesh, where they will be based for the tournament.
Broos yesterday also told the South Africa Football Association media that he has more information on Zimbabwe after playing the Warriors in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers last year.
He could have seen more of the contests between the neighbours but Zimbabwe could not participate in the 2023 AFCON edition due to a FIFA suspension despite the teams having been placed in the same qualifying group again.
“Zimbabwe is a neighbour of South Africa, and it’s always a very difficult game for us. On the other hand, in all the games we played already against Zimbabwe, we played one draw, and we won three times.
“So, winning against Zimbabwe is very possible in the AFCON,” said Broos.
The 72-year-old Belgian, who led Bafana Bafana to a bronze medal in the last edition in Cote d’Ivoire, is returning to the continental finals for the third time.
He won the AFCON tournament on his first attempt after guiding Cameroon to the 2017 gong.
Broos has rated seven-time champions Egypt as the biggest threat in the group.
“So, in general, I think we can be satisfied. It is not a very easy group. On the other hand, I think we have a great opportunity to qualify for the next round of the AFCON.
“And then, as you know, in the AFCON, after the group stages, anything is possible. So, we will do everything to do better than the last AFCON,” he said.
The Bafana Bafana coach said, on paper at least, Egypt could be the biggest threat in Group B despite their struggles the last time out.
“When I look at our opponents for AFCON, I think that Egypt is the favourite to win the group. They didn’t do very well at the last AFCON . . . they didn’t perform like everybody expected, and they were very soon out of the tournament.
“But I think in the last year and a half they have built a very good team. They did very well in the qualifiers, so they will be the team to beat for first place,” said Broos.
Unlike the Warriors, who finished as runners-up, the trio of Bafana Bafana, Angola, and Egypt finished undefeated and perched at the summit of their groups in the qualifying campaign last year.
However, the Pharaohs have been struggling at the continental finals, having been knocked out by DRC in the round of 16 in Cote d’Ivoire.
Egypt’s last AFCON title was 15 years ago when they won the competition in Angola, but their coach, the legendary Hossam Hassan, believes tables will turn, beginning at the group stage. Hassan, however, refused to underrate Zimbabwe or any of the opponents in Group B.
“It is a strong group, especially since football in Africa is developing for the better, and there are no longer weak teams, as evidenced by the results witnessed in recent years and championships and the brilliance of new teams in the upper echelons of African football.
“Of course, as Egypt is the most winning team in the Cup of African Nations, we always play to achieve championships, and this will be our goal,” said Hassan.
Angola’s Portuguese coach Pedro Goncalves was yet to comment but is no stranger to the AFCON spotlight after steering the Palancas Negras to the quarter-finals in 2023.
This was their best performance in years.
Goncalves has transformed Angola into a formidable side with just one loss in their last 15 matches across all competitions.
Online Reporter
