Zimbabwe hosts Benin in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers on Thursday at 6 PM CAT. The match occurs at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban as a neutral venue. ZBC TV will broadcast live, with FIFA Plus streaming and Soccer24 providing updates. Team changes include Knowledge Musona’s return and Marvelous Nakamba’s absence due to injury.
Zimbabwe is set to face Benin in Matchday 5 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Group C. The fixture will take place at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa, on Thursday at 6 PM CAT, with the match being hosted on neutral grounds due to the absence of approved stadiums in Zimbabwe. This contest marks the first meeting between the two teams in recent years.
ZIFA has announced that the match will be broadcast live by state broadcaster ZBC TV, accessible on terrestrial feed, DStv Zimbabwe, and Zim Digital Decoder. Additionally, FIFA Plus will stream the game live, while Soccer24 will provide real-time updates. It is noteworthy that SABC Sport and SuperSport TV have yet to confirm their broadcast schedule.
Zimbabwe’s coach Michael Nees expressed optimism about the match despite acknowledging Benin’s quality: “Benin have a good quality… But we have to take it with positivity and self-confidence, and give everything in our power to deliver a good performance.” Meanwhile, Benin’s coach Gernot Rohr emphasized mutual respect, stating, “It’s a match everyone wants to win. We respect our opponents, who qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations and have a very good coaching staff with a coach I’ve known for over 30 years. I’m sure he’s prepared his squad well.”
In terms of team news, Zimbabwe has welcomed back former captain Knowledge Musona, who retired from international football in 2022. Unfortunately, current captain Marvelous Nakamba will not participate due to an injury and has been replaced by Richard Hachiro. Isheanesu Mauchi is the sole uncapped player in the Zimbabwe squad. Benin has retained most players from their previous matches but will miss Olivier Verdon, Tosin Aiyegun, and Cédric Hountondji. Newcomer Candas Fiogbé, aged 19, has received a call-up, though his starting position remains uncertain.
In terms of recent performance, Zimbabwe holds a record of DDLL, placing them in 6th position, while Benin stands in 1st place with a record of LDWW. The FIFA Rankings reflect Zimbabwe at 121 and Benin at 94.
In summary, the upcoming match between Zimbabwe and Benin is of significant importance in the World Cup Qualifiers, highlighting critical team changes and coaching perspectives. With the game being hosted on neutral ground, the anticipation grows for this historic encounter. The match promises a competitive spirit as both teams seek to assert their standings in the qualifiers.
Original Source: www.soccer24.co.zw
