Warriors repel Bafana onslaught

Tadious Manyepo in Durban, South Africa

Zimbabwe 0-0 South Africa

The Warriors rarely receive such continental attention, and when they did, they ensured they would be remembered for decades across the footballing world.

Reduced to ten men with 25 minutes still to play after Knowledge Musona was dismissed for a second bookable offence, they delivered a disciplined performance to push neighbours South Africa to the edge in a 2026 World Cup qualifier at a packed Moses Mabhida Stadium last night.

Already out of contention for a place at the global showpiece to be co-hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Zimbabwe knew there was still much at stake in this Limpopo derby.

And they fought for every inch, managing to squeeze out a point that might not mean much for them, but everything in the face of world football.

The Warriors were already bottom of Group C with four points from eight games, and South Africa second and still primed to win the sole ticket to North America next year. But they were gallant in all phases of play to scrap a draw from this contest.

That they were 1/15 in bookmakers’ odds never showed — not even once in the entire 90 minutes of intense, end-to-end action.

Coach Michael Nees spent the past month talking about the need to be fair competitors, and they brought exactly that spirit to the sold-out, iconic 56 000-seater.

It’s a match they may even look back on in hindsight and say it was winnable.
Nees was all smiles at the end and said: “I think the game showed that football can also be entertaining when no goals are scored. If every game were like that, I think everybody would always go home with a feeling of satisfaction for the money spent. It was a fight on a high level with drama, yellow-red card, questionable — a fair, a very fair match.

I think I didn’t see a single bad tackle with bad intentions. And when you think what was, we discussed it before, what was at stake. So it was a real fair contest. We showed what we said. We don’t want to be — how can I say it? We want to be fair sportsmen. We give everything because it’s also important for us, for the Afcon and for many other reasons. And I think we showed that we are a team, a real team, stick together.

I was very impressed how, especially after the yellow-red card, how we were fighting really to the limit and with a little bit of luck, we would have almost won the game. But we must also admit South Africa also played very strong and had also those chances. So I think between neighbours, I think it’s a good draw. Yeah, I mean, I saw it not the first time from the team. Actually, I saw it many, many, many times.”

Of course, some individuals blundered in critical phases, but everyone showed that Warrior spirit — whose product was celebrated wildly in Benin and Nigeria, who retained real chances of progressing to the World Cup ahead of South Africa when they meet in two days.

South Africa asked many questions, with Oswin Appolis first sliding a low cross that was dealt with by Washington Arubi, who would go on to give one of his best performances in history.

Theboho Mokoena, substitute Thapelo Morena and Lyle Foster all came close, but Zimbabwe answered their inquiries with a lot of incisiveness.

The Warriors’ quality was on full display, with Jordan Zemura and Khama Billiat leading the songs.
It was Zemura who came within inches of breaking South African hearts right at the end, but unfortunately saw his blistering effort kiss the upright on its way out, with Ronwen Williams a beaten man.

Added Nees: “I don’t think many teams today could have come to South Africa in a full packed house and got a draw, especially then with the yellow-red card — it’s just a very questionable one.

And we can be there from the performance, from the attitude, also from the skills — satisfied.”
South Africa coach Hugo Broos was disappointed, although he can still lead the team to the World Cup with a win over Lesotho coupled with a loss for Benin against Nigeria on the final day of the qualifiers.

But the story of the day definitely belongs to Zimbabwe — who, despite now being assured of finishing last in Group C, showed the world that they are indeed a football nation.

Teams
Zimbabwe
Washington Arubi, Jordan Zemura, Munashe Garananga, Divine Lunga, Teenage Hadebe, Gerald Takwara, Marvelous Nakamba, Marshal Munetsi, Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona, Tawanda Chirewa

South Africa
Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Theboho Mokoena, Lyle Foster, Oswin Appolis, Aubrey Modiba, Sphephelo Sithole, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Mohau Nkota, Thapelo Morena (46min), Nkosinathi Sibisi, Sipho Mbule