WATCH: Zimbabwe coach aims subtle dig at Bafana Bafana ahead of must-win clash

Zimbabwe coach Michael Nees has stocked up their fire ahead of his team’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Bafana Bafana this month.

Nees’ team take on South Africa, who must win the game and the next one against Rwanda, to stay in contention for a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup but head into the match wounded.

Hugo Broos’ team are still reeling from their three-point deduction imposed by FIFA following their administrative blunder that saw midfielder Teboho Mokoena fielded in a match against Lesotho in March when he was supposed to be suspended.

Zimbabwe coach adds salt to Bafana’s wounds

The Zimbabwe coach added insult to injury when he aimed a dig at South Africa for not checking their players’ suspensions by doing a mock check on his players’ eligibility as he unveiled his squad to face Bafana Bafana.

“Okay, now let me look if there is no yellow card…let me check again…yellow cards are okay,” Nees said during a press briefing.

“You never know. Two, three, times double check (laughs as he looks at the paper). It looks good. If I am not mistaken, we have no yellow card players.”

What next for Hugo Broos’ team?

It was a hilarious take on a serious issue that has left South Africa in a spot of bother as the points deducted saw them tumble from top place in their qualification group with 17 points to second on 14, same as Benin, who have a superior goal difference.

Bafana Bafana face Zimbabwe at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on October 10 before hosting Rwanda at the Mbombela Stadium four days later.

Broos’ men must win both matches and hope Benin drop points, but if the Squirrels win their games against Rwanda and Nigeria, then South Africa must outscore them to secure the direct ticket to next year’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.