Musona rescues Zimbabwe in comeback draw against Benin

03/20/2025 02:08 PM

Knowledge Musona had the last laugh in Zimbabwe and Benin's latest Group C, 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, as the two nations played to a 2-2 draw at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Thursday night.

Following a slow start to the game, Benin managed to take the lead in the 11th minute after capitalizing on a costly error by Washington Arubi. In at attempt to clear the ball with a short-lofted pass, Dodu Dokou intercepted Arubi's effort before finding Steve Mounie, who placed the ball into an empty net.

Benin then doubled their advantage moments after the half-hour mark, following great interplay inside the box by Dokou and Junior Olaitan. After a slick one-two passing move en-route to goal, Dokou went from provider to scorer with a well-taken effort from the middle of the area.

Not sitting back, Zimbabwe fired one back shortly before the break courtesy of a strike by captain Marshall Munetsi. Jordan Zemura, who expertly brought the ball down in the 18-yard-area, played the ball back into a play, which was subsequently found by Munetsi who slotted the ball into the roof of the net.

It was all action from Zimbabwe after the restart and levelled matters in the 58th minute via a clinical effort by Knowledge Musona. After being played through on goal following a set-piece scenario, Musona's first time hit caught the opposition goalkeeper off guard at his near post.

Benin battled to get into the game after conceding their second goal while Zimbabwe continued to look dangerous going forward as the game progressed to the 75th minute mark. The Cheetahs increased their activity after the 80th minute but battled to make the most of their forward movements.

The game fizzled out after the 90 minutes while neither side looked dangerous in attack. Nonetheless, the game ended in a 2-2 stalemate at the popular Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Zimbabwe: (1) 2 ( Munetsi 44', Musona 58')

Benin: (2) 2 ( Dokou 35', Mounie 12')

Zimbabwe: Arubi, Jalai, Garananga, Takwara, Lunga, Munetsi, Rinomhota (W.Musona 90'), Musona (Dzvukamanja 83'), Billiat (Maswanhise 83'), Zemura, Dube (Chirewa 46')

Benin: Dandjinou, Kiki (Sankamao 86'), Tijani, Roche, Moumini (Ouorou 46'), Imourane, D'Almeida, Olaitan (Dossou 86'), Dokou (Attidjikou 70'), Houtondji, Mounie