Warriors fight back to force 2-2 draw with Benin in World Cup qualifier
As former skipper Knowledge Musona marks Zimbabwe return with second half equaliser
By Auther Chimbgwa
Former skipper Knowledge Musona marked his return into the Warriors fold with a second half equaliser that helped Zimbabwe claw back from a two-goal deficit and secure a 2-2 draw with Benin in a thrilling 2026 FIFA Group World Cup (CAF Group C) qualifier played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa on Thursday evening.
The Cheetahs had raced to a 2-nil lead by the 35th minute courtesy of goals by Steve Mounie after 12 minutes and striker Dodo Dokuo.
Was it not for Warriors shot stopper Washington Arubi’s 12th minute howler that gifted the group leaders their first goal, Zimbabwe could easily have emerged with the full three points.
It was the industrious England based linkman Marshall Munetsi who brought hope for Zimbabwe in the 44th minute when he struck with chilling accuracy off an assist by Jordan Zemura.
Musona, always showing flashes of brilliance in the clash, struck from the edge of the box off another assist by Jordan Zimura after 59 minutes to beat Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou and restore parity for the Warriors.
The goal was Musona’s 26th in the Saudi based footie’s 52 appearances for the Zimbabwe senior men’s football team.
Munetsi could have snatched full points for the Warriors just after the hour mark but failed to nod home a wonderful corner taken by Zemura.
At the end, it came out as a fair draw for both teams who got into the match buoyed by their recent qualification for the 2025 African Cup of Nations finals set to be hosted by Morocco on 21 December this year.
The match was played in South Africa following Zimbabwe’s ban by CAF from hosting all international football games after its stadiums were deemed unfit for the clashes.
Warriors coach Michael Nees’ men now need to win virtually all the five remaining matches to emerge from the basement of the group and miraculously grab the sole ticket to the World Cup in America.
Zimbabwe and Benin are in the same group with favourites Nigeria, South Africa, Rwanda and Lesotho.
