ZIMBABWE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2
BENIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2) 2
THE Zimbabwe Warriors shrugged off a slow start, bouncing back from two goals down to share spoils with Benin in an entertaining 2026 World Cup qualifier at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Goals from Steve Mounie and Dodo Dokou in the first 35 minutes saw the Warriors go two-nil down, but captain Marshall Munetsi pulled a goal back just before the break and former captain Knowledge Musona ensured a share of the spoils with a well-taken goal early in the second half.
Zimbabwe were looking for their first win of the campaign after drawing two and losing two in the first four matches before last night.
And the result means that their chances of qualifying for the World Cup got slimmer.
However, the match, which was coach Michael Nees’ first in the World Cup qualifiers since his appointment last August, saw Zimbabwe end a run of two consecutive losses.
The Warriors remain anchored at the bottom of Group C standings with three points from a possible 15, while Benin move top of the standings with eight points from five matches.
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The draw meant Nees and his men missed out on the US$150 000 windfall which President Emmerson Mnangagwa promised the team as a bonus for beating the West Africans.
But the pledge remains up for grabs in the next match against Nigeria in Uyo on Tuesday.
In a slippery stadium, the match started off very slow, with Benin doing most of the high pressing and they were not surprised when they forced an error at the back to take the lead.
Goalkeeper Washington Arubi tried to be clever by chipping the ball over Dokou after receiving a backpass, but the ball was intercepted, allowing Mounie to slot into an empty net.
Zimbabwe were seeing more of the ball inside the Benin half as the match wore on, but they failed to test the opposition goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou.
Benin then doubled the score 10 minutes before halftime after some beautiful interplay involving Junior Olaitan and Dokou in the box, with the latter blasting the ball into the roof of the net.
Moments later, Munetsi turned away from two Benin players and aimed for goal, but the shot flew wide.
But there was hope for Zimbabwe when a lofted pass over the defence found Jordan Zemura, who pulled back for Munetsi to rifle the ball into the roof of the net.
Zimbabwe came from the break a rejuvenated side, with substitute Tawanda Chirewa going straight into the thick of action after replacing Prince Dube.
Chirewa almost made an instant impact, but his shot was blocked early in the second half.
There were shouts for a handball from the Warriors players, but the referee waved play on.
Just before the hour mark, the hosts restored parity.
Musona ran into space to receive a Zemura freekick, beating Dandjinou at the near post.
From then on, the match opened up as the two teams sought to take the lead and ultimately win the game.
Zemura released Musona again to go through on goal, but the keeper moved quickly off his line to thwart the danger.
The Warriors also came close with Munetsi, who failed to connect a Zemura freekick from the right inside the six yard box.
Despite a late Warriors’ onslaught, Benin managed to hang on to the crucial point.
