Zimbabwe Fights Back to Earn Draw Against Benin in World Cup…

Zimbabwe recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Benin in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Benin initially took a strong lead, but goals from Marshall Munetsi and Knowledge Musona helped Zimbabwe equalize. Benin leads Group C, while both Zimbabwe and Nigeria are struggling at the bottom of the table.

In the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Zimbabwe managed to come back from a two-goal deficit to secure a 2-2 draw against Benin. The match saw a determined Benin side initially take control, with striker Steve Mounié scoring the opening goal after capitalizing on a goalkeeping error just twelve minutes into the game. They further extended their lead 35 minutes into the game with a goal from Dokou Dodo following a powerful counterattack.

Despite being two goals down, Zimbabwe regrouped with key contributions from experienced players such as Knowledge Musona, Khamat Billiat, and Jordan Zemura. The Warriors pulled a goal back shortly before halftime, with Marshall Munetsi scoring to instill a renewed sense of hope among his teammates.

In the second half, Zimbabwe’s manager, Michael Nees, made a tactical substitution, bringing in Tawanda Chirewa to strengthen the midfield. This change proved fruitful as Knowledge Musona scored the equalizer with a well-placed shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 59th minute. Despite numerous attempts by both teams to secure a win, the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Following this match, Benin stands at the top of Group C with eight points, followed closely by Rwanda and South Africa with seven points each. On the other hand, Nigeria is currently fifth in the group alongside Zimbabwe, both with three points. Next, Zimbabwe will face Nigeria at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on March 24, while Benin will host South Africa in Abidjan on March 25.

The match concluded with a 2-2 draw, allowing Zimbabwe to recover from an early deficit while maintaining their hopes for qualification. Benin, however, retains the lead in Group C, highlighting the competitiveness of the qualifying series. The Warriors will look to gain crucial points in their upcoming fixture against Nigeria, while Benin aims to maintain their position against South Africa.

Original Source: www.panafricafootball.com