Bafana Bafana Stumble in Durban: Zimbabwe Hold Firm for 0-0 Draw in Crucial World Cup Qualifier
Zimbabwe vs South Africa in Matchday 9 of the CAF 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Photo Credit- Vavel
In a gripping but goalless encounter at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Zimbabwe and South Africa played out a 0-0 draw on Thursday in Matchday 9 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup African Qualifiers. The Group C clash, attended by a near-capacity crowd of 56,000, saw both sides struggle to convert chances despite high intensity, leaving the standings tightly contested. South Africa, hosting the fixture, remain level on 15 points with leaders Benin after the result, while Zimbabwe stay rooted to the bottom with 5 points, their survival hopes hanging by a thread.
The match carried immense stakes, with South Africa aiming to solidify their position in the qualification race and Zimbabwe desperate for points to climb out of the Group C basement. Prior to kickoff, the atmosphere was electric as fans flooded the iconic venue, inaugurated for the 2010 World Cup, creating a cauldron of noise that echoed the rivalry’s history. The two nations have met seven times previously, with South Africa holding a 4-2 edge in victories and one draw, positioning the hosts as clear favorites. No injuries or suspensions plagued either squad, allowing coaches to field full-strength lineups in a bid to exploit each other’s vulnerabilities.
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Zimbabwe entered the fray off the back of a 1-0 loss to Rwanda, while South Africa carried momentum from a 1-1 stalemate against Nigeria. From the opening whistle, South Africa asserted dominance, pressing high and launching early attacks in the first half. By the 3-minute mark, they had pinned Zimbabwe back, but stout defending from the visitors kept the scoreline blank. Zimbabwe responded with growing confidence around the 10th minute, carving out their first dangerous opportunities and nearly breaking the deadlock at the 22nd mark when a shot whistled just wide of the post. The half unfolded as a midfield battle, with long balls from South Africa lacking precision and the pace dipping slightly by the 18th minute, though intensity never waned.
The second half mirrored the first’s frustration, with both teams substituting aggressively to inject fresh legs and offensive threat. South Africa made double changes just past the hour to ramp up pressure, gaining the upper hand as Zimbabwe faltered. Infractions mounted for the Warriors, culminating in two yellow cards by the 60th minute and a devastating red card at the 63rd, reducing them to 10 men. Despite the numerical advantage, South Africa squandered chances, their finishing marred by inaccuracies. Zimbabwe, now in survival mode, hunkered down defensively, frustrating the hosts through the final 10 minutes. As the clock ticked into stoppage time, a share of the spoils seemed inevitable in a match defined more by resilience than brilliance.
The draw extends South Africa’s unbeaten run but leaves them ruing missed opportunities to leapfrog Benin, who face Rwanda later on Matchday 9. For Zimbabwe, the point offers scant consolation in their uphill battle, underscoring the need for a drastic turnaround in remaining fixtures. Post-match, the focus shifts to other Group C implications, including Lesotho’s clash with Nigeria, as the race for World Cup berths intensifies across the continent. With no goals but plenty of heart, this qualifier served as a reminder of the fine margins in international football.
