Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. THE Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) has moved swiftly to secure high-profile international friendly matches against Algeria and Qatar next month as it moves to fine-tune the Warriors’ preparations ahead of the Afcon finals.
Yesterday’s announcement of the two friendly matches came a day after the sensational sacking of German coach Michael Nees over a string of poor results.
Zifa said the Warriors will face the two nations during the upcoming Fifa window as part of preparations for the Afcon finals in December.
Zifa president Nqobile Magwizi underscored the strategic importance of the matches.
“Algeria’s choice was deliberate, knowing that at the Afcon finals we will be playing Egypt, and the style of play between Egypt and Algeria is almost the same. So, we have those matches that are coming up,” he said.
Magwizi, however, remained tight-lipped on the venue for the matches, which are anticipated to be announced in the coming days.
He also revealed plans for both a 10-day camp closer to the Afcon finals and a local camp, where the incoming technical team will have an opportunity to spend extensive time with the players.
The announcement of the friendlies provides a much-needed positive focal point for a national team reeling from the termination of Nees’s contract on Wednesday.
The German tactician’s 14-month tenure at the helm of the Warriors was cut short after a dismal run of results, including a shocking defeat to Lesotho, which Zifa insiders cited as the final straw.
Nees managed only two wins in 14 matches.
With the Afcon finals looming, Zifa is now racing against time to find a replacement.
Magwizi confirmed that the search for the next Warriors coach is in full swing, with a clear and urgent mandate given to the Zifa technical development committee, chaired by Tafadzwa Benza.
“We have a committee that is working currently to come up with a road map with respect to the person specification… and the shortlist of coaches will be presented within the next three days,” Magwizi said.
The executive committee will then make a final decision, looking to engage someone new who can inject some new energy and, of course, meet the desires and hopes of many Zimbabweans.”
The urgency of the coaching search is paramount, as the new mentor will have the task of galvanising the squad for their Group B campaign at Afcon, where they are pooled alongside continental giants Egypt, as well as Angola and regional rivals South Africa.
Zimbabwe is seeking to progress to the knockout stage for the first time in six attempts.
The friendlies against Algeria, the reigning Afcon champions, and the Middle Eastern powerhouse Qatar will serve as the first test for the new technical leadership, which is likely to feature former Warriors captain Kaitano Tembo, who was recently added to the team’s technical department and is tipped to take over the reins, at least on an interim basis.
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