Zimbabwe head coach Michael Nees has described the Super Eagles' current position in their World Cup qualifying group as “bizarre,” pointing to psychological, tactical, and organisational shortcomings as key factors behind Nigeria's struggles.
The Super Eagles face an uphill battle in their qualifying campaign, having failed to secure a victory in their opening four matches. With three draws and one defeat, Nigeria finds itself in a precarious position, needing a significant turnaround to stay in contention.
Currently managed by Eric Chelle, the three-time African champions are set to face Rwanda and Zimbabwe in the next round of World Cup qualifiers later in March.
Ahead of their encounter with Nigeria on March 25, Nees has reflected on the unpredictability of the group and the Super Eagles' struggles in the campaign so far.
Nees reflects on Super Eagles’ struggles in World Cup qualifiers
In a recent interview, Nees expressed surprise at the Super Eagles’ position in their World Cup qualifying group, describing it as “a very bizarre situation” given Nigeria’s football pedigree.
“It's a very bizarre situation when you look at it, that a team like Nigeria is second from the bottom while Rwanda is leading. But it shows how competitive football is,” Nees said as per The Herald.
He further stressed the importance of mentality, tactics, and organisation. “If you don't bring the right psychological profile, the right mental approach, the right attitude, the right tactical approach, organisational support… If you don't get everything right, even a team like Nigeria can simply now sit almost at the bottom of the group and others are leading.”
As previously stated, Nigeria is set to host Zimbabwe on March 25 in their next World Cup qualifier.
The reverse fixture, held at Huye Stadium in Rwanda on November 19, 2023, ended in a 1-1 draw. Zimbabwe currently sit at the bottom of the group with just two points from four matches.
