Zimbabwe drew 2-2 with Benin in the World Cup qualifiers, following a costly mistake by goalkeeper Washington Arubi. After conceding two goals, the Warriors equalized through Marshall Munetsi and Knowledge Musona. Despite the draw, Zimbabwe remains last in Group C and faces Nigeria in their next match.
The Zimbabwe national football team drew 2-2 with Benin during the World Cup qualifiers, aided by an unfortunate error from goalkeeper Washington Arubi. In the 12th minute, Arubi mishandled a back pass, allowing Benin’s Dokou Dodo to set up Steve Mounie for the opening goal. This setback boosted Benin’s confidence, culminating in their second goal at the 35th minute by Dodo, following a series of effective passes in the penalty area.
However, the Zimbabwe Warriors valiantly responded, with captain Marshall Munetsi scoring a crucial goal in the 40th minute, capitalizing on a back pass from Jordan Zemura. Trailing 2-1 at halftime, Coach Michael Nees made a strategic substitution by replacing striker Prince Dube with Tawanda Chirewa and repositioning Knowledge Musona to center forward. This tactical change bore fruit in the 59th minute, as Musona found the net following a short pass from Zemura off a free kick, leveling the match.
Musona nearly proved pivotal again with another opportunity but was thwarted after Zemura’s excellent cross. To further alter the dynamics, Nees substituted Tawanda Maswanhise and Terrence Dzvukamanja into the match with less than ten minutes remaining. Despite not scoring, Jordan Zemura was instrumental, providing two assists that contributed to Zimbabwe’s hard-fought draw.
Following this match, Zimbabwe occupies the last position in Group C with just 3 points, while Benin leads the group with 8 points. The Warriors are now preparing for their upcoming challenge against Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Tuesday at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria, where they hope to secure a much-needed victory.
In summary, Zimbabwe’s 2-2 draw with Benin showcased the team’s resilience despite a critical error by goalkeeper Washington Arubi. The Warriors rallied back with crucial goals from captain Marshall Munetsi and Knowledge Musona, highlighting their determination. However, the draw leaves Zimbabwe at the bottom of Group C, emphasizing the urgent need for a win against Nigeria in their next qualifying match.
Original Source: allafrica.com
