Zimbabwe drew 2-2 with Benin after recovering from a blunder by goalkeeper Washington Arubi. Benin took an early lead, but Zimbabwe equalized twice, with goals from Marshall Munetsi and Knowledge Musona. Zimbabwe remains at the bottom of Group C and faces Nigeria next.
Zimbabwe’s national football team managed to secure a 2-2 draw against Benin on Thursday, despite a costly blunder from goalkeeper Washington Arubi. In the 12th minute, Arubi mishandled a back pass which allowed Benin’s Dokou Dodo to assist Steve Mounie for the opening goal. Following the mistake, Benin gained momentum and scored again in the 35th minute through Dodo after a series of effective passes in the penalty area.
The Warriors responded positively with a goal from their captain, Marshall Munetsi, who converted a shot from a back-pass by Jordan Zemura. This goal brought the halftime score to 2-1 in favor of Benin. Coach Michael Nees made tactical adjustments in the second half, substituting striker Prince Dube for Tawanda Chirewa, which allowed Knowledge Musona to play as a center forward.
Nees’s changes paid off in the 59th minute when Musona scored from a short pass by Zemura following a free kick, leveling the match at 2-2. Musona later had another opportunity to put Zimbabwe ahead, but was unable to convert after a precise cross from Zemura. In the 83rd minute, Nees brought on Tawanda Maswanhise and Terrence Dzvukamanja for Musona and Khama Billiat.
Zemura stood out in the match, providing two assists that were critical for Zimbabwe’s performance. This draw leaves Zimbabwe at the bottom of Group C with three points, while Benin leads with eight points. Looking ahead, the Warriors are set to face Nigeria on Tuesday in a crucial World Cup qualifying match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria.
The match showcased Zimbabwe’s resilience despite an early setback due to a goalkeeper error. Key adjustments and effective gameplay from players like Jordan Zemura contributed to securing an important point. As Zimbabwe prepares for their next match against Nigeria, they will need to capitalize on this performance to improve their standings in the World Cup qualifiers.
Original Source: allafrica.com
