Warriors look to dent Bafana's World Cup dream

Zimbabwe will go head-to-head with their neighbours, South Africa, in the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualification (Group C) match set to be held at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday.

Kick-off is at 6:00 pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

The Warriors are winless in their last three games across all competitions, having suffered a 1-0 defeat to Rwanda in a Group C match on September 9 and it was the second consecutive defeat.

Zimbabwe find themselves placed sixth in the Group C standings, having collected four points from eight matches and the Warriors have already been eliminated coming into the Southern African Derby.

Meanwhile, South Africa are undefeated in their last seven matches across all competitions following their 1-1 draw with Nigeria in a Group C clash on September 9 and it was their third draw in their last four games.

With Fifa having awarded Lesotho a 3-0 win over Bafana Bafana, who had fielded the ineligible player Teboho Mokoena in the two teams' clash in March 2025, South Africa are now second in the Group C standings.

Bafana have 14 points from eight games and the Southern African giants will be looking to win their last two games in order to stand a better chance of qualifying directly for the World Cup.

TEAM NEWS

Khama Billiat has been included in the Zimbabwe squad after missing last month's Group C matches. However, the Warriors will be without their assistant coach, Takesure Chiragwi. who stepped down from his position after slapping one of his players at Ngezi Platinum during a Zimbabwean top-tier game against Dynamos last weekend.

South Africa, on the other hand, have had to make several changes to their squad due to injuries as Mduduzi Shabalala replaced the injured Relebohile Mofokeng. Evidence Makgopa has also been called up to replace the injured Iqraam Rayners.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Zimbabwe head coach Michael Nees

“The boys are motivated and working hard. We know what’s at stake and are confident that we can perfect our strategies before kickoff... Every team we face will meet a Zimbabwe side ready to fight," Nees told reporters.

"We’ve analyzed our past games, learned from our mistakes, and are coming back stronger. That’s the spirit I want — everyone fighting for the shirt. It’s not just about playing; it’s about representing the nation with pride.”

South Africa head coach Hugo Broos

“Certainly, looking at the next games, there are four teams involved. It’s impossible that four teams can win their two matches. So, therefore, the game on Friday is maybe the most important. If we can win that game, we have 17 points,” Broos told reporters.

“Nigeria, if they win their two games, they can only have 17 points, and the same thing for Rwanda. Benin cannot win the two games because they play against Nigeria and Rwanda, and then the game on Friday is so important for us to win.”

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Zimbabwe and South Africa have met seven times in competitive matches (Afcon and World Cup qualifiers) since their maiden meeting in August 1992.

Bafana have dominated this rivalry, winning four matches compared to the Warriors' one victory and two games were drawn.

The last meeting between the two teams ended in a 3-1 in favour of Bafana in a 2026 World Cup qualifier at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein in June 2024.