The Zimbabwe national football team, also known as the Warriors, will be heading to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a new head coach. ZIFA officially announced on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, that they have terminated the contract of German coach Michael Nees with immediate effect.
The move follows widespread criticism and frustration from fans after the Warriors' poor performance in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Nees's tenure and performance
Nees was appointed in August 2024 and guided the Warriors to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
His success in qualifying for AFCON was not enough to save his job after a disappointing World Cup qualification campaign.
In the six World Cup qualifying matches, the team managed only three draws and suffered three losses, finishing at the bottom of their group.Overall, Nees secured only two wins in 14 games during his tenure.
The search for a new coach
ZIFA must now find a new coach quickly, as the team's opening AFCON match against Egypt is scheduled for December 22.
According to OneFootball, former Sekhukhune United and SuperSport United coach Kaitano Tembo has been tipped as a potential successor.Tembo recently served as Nees's assistant coach during the final two World Cup qualifiers.
PRESS STATEMENT: TERMINATION OF CONTRACT - MR. MICHAEL NEES#ZIFA #PressStatement pic.twitter.com/W2BBSwHi2i
Upcoming challenges
The coaching change comes at a critical time, with the AFCON finals just around the corner.
Zimbabwe will face Egypt, Angola, and South Africa in a tough Group B.
The team now faces the challenge of adapting to a new coach and strategy in a short period to prepare for the tournament.