Online Reporter
Zimbabwe are looking to finally unlock a victory in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign when they face neighbours South Africa at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban this evening.
The showdown gets underway at 6pm.
The Warriors have since been elbowed out of the running for a place at the World Cup in North America next year after failing to win any of the eight matches they have played so far.
They sit at the foot of Group C with four points after forcing draws twice against Nigeria as well as Rwanda and Benin.
And they entertain a Bafana Bafana side sitting pretty on second place with the same number of points (14) as the leaders Benin.
Naturally it is South Africa carrying loads of pressure as they still have a huge chance to make it to the global showpiece next year but Zimbabwe too should preserve national pride and earn points that matter a lot on international rankings.
There are bragging rights to fight for as well.
With the World Cup dream over, the Warriors are already using the remaining two qualifiers against Lesotho next week and today’s tie to fine-tune for the December-January Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.
All that set the stage for a thriller in this port city.
We will give you the blow by blow account as action unfolds at one of the most iconic stadiums across Africa in what should be one of the most iconic matches to be played there as well.
Nees goes for experience
Warriors coach Michael Nees has settled for the tried-and-tested guns in his Starting 11.
All the old guard in the squad troop in as starters. Emmanuel Jalai, a starter at Right Back in recent games has been seated on the bench. Gerald Takwara, a Centre-Back in all the 2026 World Cup qualifiers moves to the right of that four men backline.
Warriors Starting 11 v South Africa
Washington Arubi, Jordan Zemura, Munashe Garananga, Divine Lunga, Teenage Hadebe, Gerald Takwara, Marvelous Nakamba, Marshal Munetsi, Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona, Tawanda Chirewa
Roaring welcome for Warriors
It is the Warriors who emerge from the tunnel for the warm-up first.
And an excited Zimbabwean crowd already dancing to Alick Macheso’s iconic 1999 banger Shedia gives them a shout. A huge one!
The 56 000 seater Moses Mabhida is sold out and a good number of those to buy tickets are Zimbabweans.
Fun-filled atmosphere before kickoff
Zimbabweans love fun. They are a happy people. Who can blame them?
Their Warriors are set to enjoy themselves against a Bafana Bafana side who know this tie is about life and death, literally.
And in the terraces so far? Zimbabwe is certainly leading!
Finally we have the Bafana squad
Today it took a bit longer to have it.
South Africa need these points for sure. But they aren’t sure what kind of a wall they will need to break to get them. If there is a team they wouldn’t have played at this penultimate stage when the group is so delicately poised then it’s Zimbabwe.
This is how they are lining-up.
Speed and power the priority for coach Hugo Bruce? Certainly. They don’t have any other choice.
Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau,
Theboho Mokoena, Lyle Foster, Oswin Appolis, Aubrey Modiba, Sphephelo Sithole, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Mohau Nkota, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Sipho Mbule
Sold-out crowd yet to fill the stands
You have to always wonder. The SOLD-OUT 56 000-seater Moses Mabhida Stadium is yet to fill up. The fans should still be lingering around the beach, of course still feeling the last breeze before this potentially tense encounter.
They will most certainly come but maybe well after kickoff. We are moments, just moments before we get underway as teams stroll to the park, back from the changing rooms, ready for the big kickoff.
KICK-OFF
South Africa 0-0 Zimbabwe
South Africa get the first chance
It was Appolis from the left flank who slid a low cross but Arubi was equal to it.
He was fouled in the process and a free kick for us had the game restarted
Come at us and we counter you
That’s the strategy maybe for us. If it is then it’s working at least for now. We have had the first corner, Billiat forcing one. But they have had theirs too.
Warriors showing their class
Zimbabwe are refusing to be bullied. Not with the quality of Zemura, Chirewa, Munetsi and Billiat on show.
We are showing that we have what it takes as well. It will be a long 90minutes for the World Cup aspirants. Surely
Derbies are tricky, ask SA
For the opening 20 minutes, Bafana Bafana can’t prove why they are primed for North America and why Zimbabwe anchor Group C.
It’s proving to be a balanced affair, never the one way traffic they would have imagined before kickoff. What they can do, the Warriors can, too, if not better.
A corner for them, a corner for us. A dribble for them, and for us as well.
Never mistake it. It’s the LIMPOPO DERBY!
At time Munetsi is just too casual
That’s not how a midfielder is supposed to carry himself Munetsi!
The star is trying hard to prove a point. But he is overdoing it. He is overcarrying the ball. Trying to be over elaborate. And often, he is getting dispossessed and it almost got us punished. Thanks Arubi for saving us.
Musona, Billiat turn back the hands of time
There was a time when the Warriors were all about Musona and Billiat. It’s no longer quite about that now.
The pair has grown old and they had even called time to their international careers before being summoned back. But they are showing off their yester year skills with Musona proving to be very effective when covering for Right Back Munashe Garananga against the tricky Appolis.
Warriors effective facing setpieces
If South Africa’s strategy involved forcing set-pieces and punish the Warriors, they should as well re-think.
Nothing of that sort is working. We have just been taller in this regard.
Yes they have had more setpieces than us but we have been EFFECTIVE.
A minute added to the half
The first 45 minutes are up. We will play 60 more seconds. We haven’t had any delays. It looks like we will go to the break on level terms
Goalless at the break
Zimbabwe 0-0 South Africa
Bafana lines up Morena
When we were 1-1 in the reverse fixture at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein in the reverse tie that we eventually lost 1-3, Hugo Broos threw Thapelo Morena into the fixture off the bench. He is hoping that can work again today.
Maybe yes maybe no. But Morena seems to be readying to come on.
Second half begins
Action has resumed at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Right into the last 45 minutes which could potentially give South Africa the wings to fly or clip them almost altogether as they bid for a place at tge 2026 World Cup.
45 minutes for us to get a first win in these qualifiers. 45 minutes for us to retake the bragging rights!
We were almost DOWN
Yea almost but just not now. South Africa broke loose beating the offside trap, Arubi disturbed the attack and when reorganised to kill, boom, Lunga cleared it right on the line. Goalless it remains. 56minutes on the clock.
Tawanda is on for Tawanda
We have our first sub of the match, Chirewa paving the way for Maswanhise. That’s almost like for like but Maswanhise can give us more pace going forward than creativity that Chirewa delivers in abundance.
RED CARD FOR MUSONA
That was needless Knowledge!
Knowledge Musona is 35. He ought to know better. South Africa have been growing frustrated on and off the pitch. Temperatures have dropped in Durban but it’s absolutely boiling at Moses Mabhida. Then you do this?
We have 25 minutes to suffer with a numerical disadvantage.
Warriors haven’t won this campaign but they have a record to protect
Zimbabwe might have the ignominy of not having won in their eight qualifiers but NO team has beaten them twice.
South Africa won the reverse tie last year and Zimbabwe have 13 minutes to make sure Bafana Bafana doesn’t become the first team in Group C to beat them twice.
So far, it’s well on course
We survive!
Some confusion in the box. Morena was lurking almost stealthily in this noisy arena. He got the ball and threw mayhem, almost. But we survived. We were almost down
Antonio, Jalai and Walter Musona subbed on
It is Billiat, Garananga and Lunga out.
What’s it that Nees is thinking about?
Maybe speed and keep the South Africans at the back. They have been camping in our defensive third for too long. Let’s see if the trio can tilt it in our favour.
Fabiach replaces Nakamba
Jonah Fabiasch can have some minutes in place of Nakamba and as he is just coming on, Walter Musona powers a free kick before Zemura razes the post. That’s was the phase. That was the moment. It went begging
South Africans go on mute in the stands
Each passing second is slowly spelling disaster for Bafana.The Warriors are here for duty. Six minutes of added time are almost up. And the stands are MUTED!
Red Card for South Africa and the Warriors squeeze a point!
That’s the Warriors for you
This isn’t a good result for Zimbabwe as they needed a win but it’s a BIG result for football.
One day inside this coming week, they will carry a huge tag. Fair play masters.
It’s a huge dent for South Africa’s bid to qualify for the World Cup. The basement side denying roses to the team that spent almost the entire campaign on top. What a game. What a result for Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe have done what all other teams in Group C have failed to do. To SILENCE this Bafana side at a moment like this.
