2026 WCQ: Zimbabwe coach Brito unhappy with draw against Nigeria

Zimbabwe head coach Baltemar Brito has described taking a point in the match against Nigeria is disappointing but believes the Warriors are on the right path for a team that just came together.

The national team spent over a year and a half banned from international football.

Following the lifting of the ban, Brito was tasked to rebuild the team ahead of the qualifiers.

Speaking after Sunday’s game, Brito said:

‘When we started the game, we expected to win it, but unfortunately, we drew though we had ambitions to win.

‘We felt a positive vibe between the players and the technical staff and the committee.

The Portuguese mentor reserved special praise for the players' attitude

He added: “The players have come here with open hearts, to serve and represent the country. They fought too much today and they deserve it, and in the end, this good performance is about them.

“The players deserve all the credit for this good performance, yes we had the chance, and in football, teams should create and score.

“We just scored one beautiful goal from Walter.”

The Warriors could have wrapped up a win with glorious late chances, something Brito pointed out, saying:

“At the end of the game, we had chances where we could have killed the contest.

“If it's fair or not, we don’t know but football is about the final score, and the final score was 1-1. One point more and it's like it is.

Despite not clinching a win, Brito firmly believes his charges are on the right part.

He said: “It is obvious this is a process, it’s our second game, third camping and from the last one to this one we felt a big difference.

” We want to build the organisation around the football team not just inside.

“So we felt in this game – we were better than the last one, we were more positive and had a positive mindset and that brings positive things he concluded.

“We need to grow as a team, not only inside the team but outside as well.

“We faced a side that has years of playing together and creating dynamics so we are still in process.

“We won’t relax just because we drew with Nigeria, we can’t fall asleep just because we have done something good, right now it’s standard to go forward.”