Zimbabwe managed a 2-2 draw against Benin despite a blunder by goalkeeper Washington Arubi that led to an early goal. Benin initially dominated, scoring twice, but the Warriors fought back with goals from Munetsi and Musona. The result leaves Zimbabwe at the bottom of Group C, with an urgent need for a win against Nigeria in their next match.
Zimbabwe and Benin played to a 2-2 draw on Thursday, thanks in part to a mistake by Zimbabwean goalkeeper Washington Arubi. In the 12th minute, Arubi mishandled a back pass, allowing Benin’s Dokou Dodo to assist Steve Mounie for the opening goal. After Benin’s dominating start, Dodo scored again in the 35th minute, extending Benin’s lead to 2-0 through a well-coordinated team effort.
The Warriors regained momentum, with captain Marshall Munetsi netting a goal off a back-pass from Jordan Zemura, making it 2-1 before halftime. Responding to this, coach Michael Nees made tactical adjustments in the second half, substituting Tawanda Chirewa for striker Prince Dube and repositioning Knowledge Musona to center forward. This strategy bore fruit when, in the 59th minute, Musona scored from a short pass by Zemura following a free kick.
Despite a further chance for Musona to score, he was thwarted by Benin’s defense. In the 83rd minute, Nees made additional substitutions bringing in Tawanda Maswanhise and Terrence Dzvukamanja, bolstering the attack. Jordan Zemura starred for Zimbabwe, providing two assists throughout the match.
The outcome left Zimbabwe at the bottom of Group C with three points, while Benin ascended to the top with eight points. Looking ahead, Zimbabwe will aim for victory against Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Tuesday at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria.
In summary, Zimbabwe’s 2-2 draw against Benin was marked by a critical error from goalkeeper Washington Arubi, setting the stage for a challenging match. The Warriors showed resilience through goals from Munetsi and Musona, but ultimately remain at the bottom of their group, necessitating a win in their upcoming match against Nigeria. The performance of players like Jordan Zemura was crucial, demonstrating the potential for recovery and future success.
Original Source: allafrica.com
