Warriors to play in Durban

Innocent Kurira, [email protected]
THE Warriors will play their crucial 2025 Fifa World Cup Qualifier against Benin on Thursday, March 20, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa.

The match, scheduled to kick off at 18:00 hrs, will be a crucial fixture in the Warriors’ bid to secure a place in next year’s World Cup.

This announcement finally settles the uncertainty surrounding the venue for the upcoming match, as Zimbabwe continues to face challenges with hosting international games at home due to the lack of a CAF-approved stadium.

Originally, Zifa had planned to host the match in Polokwane.
However, following a re-allocation of Bafana Bafana’s January fixtures, alternative venues had to be considered.

Johannesburg’s approved stadia were unavailable due to rugby and other events, while Cape Town Stadium is presently undergoing pitch renovations.

After an extensive search, Moses Mabhida Stadium emerged as the ideal venue.

Known for hosting top international matches, the stadium offers world-class facilities and the perfect conditions for the Warriors’ playing style.

“We are confident that Moses Mabhida will provide the best environment for our team to perform and deliver a memorable result for the fans,” Zifa said in a statement released yesterday.

“We are excited to bring the Warriors closer to their passionate supporters in Durban. Moses Mabhida Stadium offers excellent facilities and is an ideal venue for our style of play. We encourage all Zimbabwean football fans to come out in full force, support the team, and rally behind them as they continue their quest for World Cup qualification.”

In the absence of an approved venue in Zimbabwe, the Warriors have frequently played their international matches in South Africa. The team has built a strong presence in the neighboring country, having won two and drawn one of their last three games there.

Despite struggling at the bottom of Group C with only two points from five games, the Warriors remain optimistic about their chances of advancing to the World Cup.

Zimbabwe will need to secure a strong result against Benin to stay alive in the qualification race.
Rwanda leads the group with seven points, same as South Africa and Benin in second and third position respectively. Lesotho in fourth have five points while Nigeria are on three points. — @innocentskizoe.