South Africa’s quest for a 2026 FIFA World Cup spot hit a major stumbling block on Friday night as Bafana Bafana were held to a goalless draw by Zimbabwe in their penultimate Group C qualifier at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Despite dominating possession and creating the bulk of chances, Hugo Broos’s men could not find a breakthrough against a resilient Warriors side that battled bravely even after being reduced to ten men midway through the second half. The result leaves South Africa two points adrift of group leaders Benin, meaning everything will come down to their final clash against Rwanda on Tuesday in Mbombela.
Relentless Pressure, but No End Product
Bafana Bafana started brightly, with Mohau Nkota and Oswin Appollis stretching the Zimbabwean defence early on. Nkota came agonisingly close to opening the scoring just before halftime, his fierce drive crashing against the upright with goalkeeper Washington Arubi well beaten.
The hosts continued to pile on the pressure after the break, with Lyle Foster seeing his close-range effort cleared off the line by Divine Lunga. South Africa’s momentum increased when Zimbabwe captain Knowledge Musona was sent off in the 62nd minute for a second bookable offence, but the extra man did little to alter the outcome.
Foster again rattled the woodwork late on, while Sipho Mbule and Teboho Mokoena both went close as Bafana camped inside Zimbabwe’s half. Yet the finishing touch never came. Deep into stoppage time, South Africa’s frustrations boiled over when Mbekezeli Mbokazi was shown a red card, ensuring he will miss the must-win encounter against Rwanda.
Resilient Warriors Deny Bafana
For Zimbabwe, the night was about grit and defensive organisation. Arubi’s heroics between the posts and the backline’s composure under constant assault ensured they escaped Durban with a hard-earned point. Despite already being out of contention, the Warriors displayed pride and discipline that frustrated the home crowd.
Qualification Hopes Go to the Wire
With Benin’s win against Rwanda, South Africa’s fate now hangs delicately in the balance. A victory over Rwanda on Tuesday is non-negotiable — but Bafana will also be hoping for favourable results from other fixtures to keep their World Cup dream alive.
While Broos’s side showed flashes of creativity and control, their inability to convert dominance into goals remains a concern. The coach now faces the task of lifting his players for one final push, knowing that anything less than maximum points could end South Africa’s hopes of booking their ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
Final Score:
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe 0 – 0 🇿🇦 South Africa
Key Takeaways:
- South Africa hit the woodwork twice and missed several clear chances.
- Zimbabwe played the last 30 minutes with 10 men after Musona’s red card.
- Mbekezeli Mbokazi was sent off late for Bafana Bafana.
- South Africa now trail Group C leaders Benin by two points with one match remaining.
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