DailySun
Wolves’ latest acquisition, Marshall Munetsi, is set to take the field at the Moses Mabhida Stadium next month, following an announcement by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) that their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Benin will be hosted there.
The match is scheduled for 20 March at the iconic FIFA World Cup venue in Durban, having been relocated from Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium. This change was essential as Bafana Bafana will be competing against Lesotho at Peter Mokaba Stadium on 17 March, necessitating time for the pitch to recover after a music concert in December.
Currently, Zimbabwe is among 17 African member associations prevented from hosting matches due to subpar facilities. Similarly, Lesotho has been holding its World Cup qualifiers in neighboring South Africa, along with Namibia.
South Africa is reaping the rewards of its substantial investments in modern stadiums constructed for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Since the qualifying rounds for the 2026 World Cup commenced, Zimbabwe has played two matches in South Africa and one in Rwanda. They achieved a draw against Nigeria in Rwanda, but suffered a loss to Lesotho at Orlando Stadium.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) is excited to announce that the Zimbabwe Senior Men’s National Team, the Warriors, will participate in their Matchday 5, Group C, FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Benin at the prestigious Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa,” ZIFA stated.
ZIFA’s announcement highlighted that Munetsi, who transferred to Wolves in the January transfer window from the French club Reims, will make his debut at this esteemed venue. Munetsi, a former Orlando Pirates player, came close to scoring for Wolves against Liverpool at Anfield last Sunday, but his one-on-one opportunity was denied by goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Competing in South Africa presents an advantage for Zimbabwe, as many players are either based there or have experience in the country, leading to a more comfortable setting.
Nonetheless, Zimbabwe currently sits at the bottom of Group C with only two points after four matches. They have not secured a victory in their last ten World Cup qualifiers, recording five draws and five defeats, with their last win occurring against Somalia in September 2019.
