Zimbabwe aims for first World Cup Qualifiers win against Bafana

The Zimbabwe senior men's football team, the Warriors, aims for its first win in the Group C CAF World Cup Qualifiers on Tuesday evening against South Africa at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. This follows a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Lesotho last Friday.

Warriors' interim coach Jairos Tapera emphasized that the match against Bafana Bafana is more about pride than current standings, describing it as a derby where determination will dictate the outcome. Zimbabwe currently sits at the bottom of the group with 2 points, and a win could improve their position. However, the team faces challenges with key defenders Teenage Hadebe and Devine Lunga doubtful due to injuries. Lunga, who injured his ankle against Lesotho, only resumed training on Monday evening.

In contrast, Nigeria suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat to Benin, leaving them and Zimbabwe as the only teams in Group C yet to secure a victory. Benin now leads the group with 7 points. Despite Zimbabwe's struggles, Bafana Bafana's coach Hugo Broos anticipates a tough match, acknowledging Zimbabwe's need to recover from their loss to Lesotho and stressing the importance of a win for South Africa to improve their standing.