Online Reporter
Warriors play Benin in a World Cup qualifier tonight.
Benin are hosting this Group C qualifier in Cote d’Ivoire as they don’t have a CAF-certified stadium.
The match kicks off at 6pm and both teams are eager to secure vital points in their quest for World Cup qualification.
Join us as we bring you all the action, updates, and key moments from the match!
Minister Sanyatwe backs Warriors
Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Minister Anselem Sanyatwe
The Warriors have received backing from the Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Minister Anselem Sanyatwe ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Benin tonight.
Minister Sanyatwe said this game is a pivotal moment for Zimbabwe’s national football team.
“As the Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture and on behalf of the Government and the people of Zimbabwe, I would like to extend my heartfelt best wishes to our men’s senior national football team.
“Warriors, you carry with you the hopes, dreams, and spirit of an entire nation. We are rallying behind you with pride and belief,” said the Sports Minister.
Zimbabwe anchors Group C with four points.
However, Coach Michael Nees thinks Zimbabwe still has a mathematical chance of qualifying for the World Cup.
Group leaders automatically qualify, while the best second-placed nation will be involved in the playoffs.
“Step onto that pitch with courage, not fear. Play with heart, with honour, and with determination that defines Zimbabwean resilience.
“Lift our flag high, let every touch, pass and goal echo the strength and unity of our great nation.
“To Coach Michael Nees and the entire technical team, your leadership and vision are vital. Steer the ship with clarity and conviction. Know that the nation stands firmly behind your efforts.
“Let this be the moment Zimbabwe rises, together, in pursuit of the World Cup dream,” added the minister.
Zifa president rallies national team
Nqobile Magwizi
ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi has rallied the Warriors, urging them to play with heart ahead of their crucial World Cup African Zone qualifier against Benin.
Benin are in third place with eight points.
Zimbabwe, with four points and at the foot of the table, are looking for their first win in a delicate Group C that is headed by South Africa with 13 points.
Should they win against Benin and on Tuesday against Rwanda in South Africa, the Warriors will bounce back for a chance to rescue a campaign that started awfully in 2024.
And Magwizi believes in the Warriors.
Hours before they go into battle, the Zifa boss took to his social media handles to rally skipper Marvelous Nakamba and his troops.
“All the best to the Warriors as they take on Benin today in the Fifa World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
“Play with heart, make us proud and bring it home,” wrote Magwizi.
‘Ngwenya created selection headache’
Zimbabwe national team Coach Michael Nees has said AmaZulu star Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya posed a selection dilemma ahead of the current international break.
Nees announced his squad last week, initially omitting Tymon Machope.
Machope was later called up to replace an injured player, but Nees revealed that the forward’s initial exclusion was due to the impressive form of AmaZulu’s Ngwenya.
Ngwenya joined AmaZulu from Zimbabwean club FC Platinum in July and has made an immediate impact in KwaZulu-Natal, scoring two goals in his first five Betway Premiership appearances.
Speaking to Zifa Media, Nees explained said, “There was a tight call between Thando and Machope. Although Machope had a very good run, Thando has also been exceptional.
“Thando made a statement, and that’s the reaction you want as a coach. Tymon also made a statement, you go to the game and he scores two goals. He shows the coach that you made a mistake. ‘Take me.’ And that’s a fact, so I didn’t hesitate.
“But we had to wait to check all the other players. Thando has done very well, and we hope he can continue with the same work with us.” – Kickoff
Ticket to go to the 2026 World Cup is at stake
We have 10 mins on the clock now and either team has had a shot on target.
For us, Kadewere’s low shot on the turn was a bit weak while Washington Arubi did well to smoother their response.
Zimbabwe’s line up
Washington Arubi, Jordan Zemura, Munashe Garananga, Divine Lunga, Tino Kadewere, Teenage Hadebe, Knowledge Musona, Marvelous Nakamba, Tawanda Maswanhise, Tawanda Chirewa, Emmanuel Jalai
This is how Zimbabwe are lining up
Washington Arubi, Jordan Zemura, Munashe Garananga, Divine Lunga, Tino Kadewere, Teenage Hadebe, Knowledge Musona, Marvelous Nakamba, Tawanda Maswanhise, Tawanda Chirewa, Emmanuel Jalai
11’ Garananga!
The defender frees himself up in the box to meet Musona’s accurate freekick but the header isn’t firm enough and Benin goalie parries it away
15’
While the scores remain goalless, the Warriors look more organised. They are showing the hunger and they have all the confidence tapping it around. Nakamba, who has missed a glut of games previously is skippering well and incredibly precise in the midfield where he is being well complemented by Musona and the ever-green Zemura.
Quite a number of promising attacks but the openings tightened so far
18’ Lunga is yellow-carded
The first caution of the game goes against us.
Lunga nudges onto the opponent’s face at the corner flag as he retrieved the ball.
And the referee adjudges it to be unfair.
As the game teeters on with no goals so far
25’ Still goalless with most of the action concentrated in midfield.
The Warriors have to win this one to at least retain that slender mathematical chance to be part of the 2026 World Cup cast in USA, Mexico and Canada.
They are showing loads of promise.
But the final product is yet to arrive
30’
Half-an-hour gone by in the dark night of Abidjan with nothing to cheer it up yet.
Looks like our coach Nees has thrown more bodies up.
We need the goals but the lack of effective goalmouth action is a bit unsettling for us.
We are dominating the ball and fighting for the territory well but that has to show on the scoreboard too.
35’
Benin’s deafening brass band is untiring but the action before it isn’t corresponding as Arubi makes a routine save from a lame low strike.
We are living dangerously now as we are allowing them to play as they please. Musona clips their striker and they get a freekick right at the edge of the box.
36’
The freekick was never going to trouble Arubi with that trajectory. It’s skied over and wide. We regroup and start all over again.
37’
CLOSE!
Kadewere connects Maswanhise’s cross well but the shot is blocked right inside the box. That was the moment perhaps.
40’
We look to be just too desperate when defending. Three fouls committed inside the last five minutes, all in not-so-comfortable positions. We are luck Benin look like they are not that good with the dead ball.
45’ SAVE!
Benin break loose on the left axis. They looked dangerous as their winger cut in but his left footed strike is well-read by Arubi who collects it first-time.
But we are uncomfortably under immense pressure as we go into the one minute added on time to wrap up the half.
WHAT A SAVE!
Arubi keeps us in the game. A header, planted in with both force and precision should have taken us to the break at 0-1.
But Arubi sprung up with incredible elasticity to stop it.
HALF TIME
Benin 0-0 Zimbabwe
It was a 45-minute period of reverting action.
We dominated in most of the phases of play for the better part of it but never really got to fashion out clear chances.
Benin settled in well as the half time break approached.
Twice, they came close and twice, our goalkeeper Washington Arubi stood tall.
That’s what veterans do, especially when required to keep teams in the game.
SECOND HALF BEGINS
Benin 0-0 Zimbabwe
No changes for the Warriors at the resumption.
50’
Looks like the second half has started the same way the first ended.
We are conceding freekicks in our defensive third quite too often.
We are allowing them to play especially in the flanks.
Their crosses, two of them in the last five minutes, haven’t been the best.
54’
Three corners in succession for us end in an attempted acrobatic kick by Hadebe that unfortunately rolls out.
One would have a feeling that we deserved something out of the set-pieces, all taken by Musona.
60’
The hour mark and the scoreboard is still clean. Seems both teams went back home and improved their defences especially after the reverse tie hosted by Zimbabwe in Durban, South Africa in March.
By now, the two teams had scored four goals already, equally sharing them in a game that eventually ended in a 2-2 draw.
ARUBI!
What are you doing there? ‘Keeper desperately clears the ball off the line after failing to to coolly control a reverse pass.
That’s exactly how he conceded the first goal against the same opponents in much.
You don’t dice with death, especially when you were once culpable against the same opponent.
But no qualms, he cleared his lines, eventually.
64’
Hadebe joins Lunga in the ref’s book.
The game is evenly balanced but this should be the day Zimbabweans have to finally appreciate that Tino Kadewere is a world-class player when played in his actual position.
He is so commanding playing deep.
His passing, the way he is retrieving the ball from the opponents, the way he is initiating attacks.
Well, he is proving to be next-level.
73’ Nakamba becomes the third Warriors player to be booked following a professional foul.
The resultant freekick sees Benin breaking down the channel and Arubi saves us
We are down 1-0!
Oh my word. Just like that
Their flanks always looked threatening and for once, they got it right, crossing the ball in from the left and the header can’t be saved.
That was a bit casual from Jalai
84’
TRIPLE SUBSTITUTION
Nees’ response to this is to sub off Maswanhire, Chirewa, Jalai for Antonio, Dzvukamanja, Machope
Zimbabwe are yet to win a match this campaign.
And with this on the board, the slim chances we had are evaporating right away.
Let’s salvage something here.
National pride also.
90’
Benin are just winding down the clock as cram their half.
Only four minutes of optional time will be played.
Four minutes for Zimbabwe to score a consolation. Or it’s all over.
With South Africa stretching their lead over us to 12 points following their 3-0 win over Lesotho with three games before the qualifiers end, we can safely say it’s another campaign and another failure to reach the World Cup.
Apparently the four minutes of stoppage time are over and the ref can blow to end the match anytime from now.
It’s all over
Benin 1-0 Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s 2026 World Cup dream over
The Warriors will not be part of the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup to be co-hosted by three countries for the first time, after losing 1-0 to Benin in Group C of the qualifiers this evening.
Zimbabwe needed to win this match, hosted by their opponents in Cote d’Ivoire to remain in contention for a maiden dance at the global fiesta to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States of America next year.
But a late header by Steve Mounie of Benin took away the tie from the Warriors and with leaders South Africa stretching their lead over Zimbabwe to 12 points with three remaining games, it means the Warriors should wait for five more years to try again to be part of the elite in world football.
All their remaining games including next Tuesday’s tie against Rwanda have now been rendered academic as they will be trying to salvage national pride.
In this evening’s match, the Warriors dominated the first half, but never looked effective in the final third.
Once Benin settled in, Zimbabwe looked content with defending. But they seated too deep and were duly punished.
Online Reporter