Zimbabwe drew 2-2 with Benin in a World Cup Qualifier after a blunder by goalkeeper Washington Arubi. Despite going down 2-1 at halftime, the Warriors equalized thanks to Knowledge Musona’s goal. The team remains bottom of Group C and faces Nigeria next.
Zimbabwe’s national football team managed to draw 2-2 with Benin in a World Cup Qualifier on Thursday. The match commenced poorly, as goalkeeper Washington Arubi made a significant error by failing to control a back pass, leading to Benin’s opener courtesy of Steve Mounie after a setup from Dokou Dodo in the 12th minute.
Gaining momentum, Benin further capitalized on their lead with a second goal in the 35th minute, scored by Dokou Dodo following effective teamwork in the box. In response, the Warriors began to rally and found a goal from captain Marshall Munetsi, who netted from a back-pass by Jordan Zemura, concluding the first half with a score of 2-1 against them.
Determined to turn the game around, coach Michael Nees substituted striker Prince Dube with Tawanda Chirewa and repositioned Knowledge Musona to center forward. This tactical shift proved fruitful when Musona equalized in the 59th minute with a finish from a short pass by Jordan Zemura following a free kick.
Despite a near-miss from Musona 20 minutes later after another good delivery from Zemura, the players continued their efforts. Nees made further adjustments in the 83rd minute by introducing Tawanda Maswanhise and Terrence Dzvukamanja. Jordan Zemura stood out with his two assists, contributing significantly to Zimbabwe’s recovery, yet the team remains at the bottom of Group C with 3 points, while Benin leads with 8 points.
Looking ahead, the Warriors are eager for a victory against Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Tuesday at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo, Nigeria.
In summary, Zimbabwe’s 2-2 draw with Benin showcased the impact of errors and tactical adjustments. Arubi’s blunder initially set a challenging tone, but the team’s resilience allowed them to recover and secure a vital point. The Warriors’ next encounter against Nigeria will be crucial as they strive to move up from the bottom of Group C.
Original Source: www.newzimbabwe.com
