World Cup 2026 (Q): Zimbabwe vs Rwanda, a duel to salvage pride | OneFootball

World Cup 2026 (Q): Zimbabwe vs Rwanda, a duel to salvage pride

Zimbabwe and Rwanda face off this Tuesday as part of matchday 8 in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Two nations on contrasting paths, yet both share a common ambition: to salvage their pride.

Zimbabwe: last chance for the Warriors

Defeated 1-0 by Benin in the previous round, Zimbabwe sit at the bottom of Group C with just six points from seven matches. It’s been a disappointing campaign for the Warriors, who have managed only one win. Their main issue remains a lack of attacking efficiency: only four goals scored, while their defense has already been breached seven times.

Back on home soil, Zimbabwe hope to ride the momentum of their fans to finally snatch a win—crucial for keeping their World Cup dreams alive.

Rwanda: inconsistency as a stumbling block

On the other side, Rwanda are also going through a rough patch. Beaten 1-0 by Nigeria last weekend, the Amavubi have won just one of their last five matches. Their current tally (8 points) keeps them in 4th place in the group, but their hopes are dwindling.

Struggling offensively (3 goals in 7 matches), they’ll need to show much more clinical edge if they hope to upset their hosts.

Main objective: salvage pride

The context makes this a crucial encounter for both sides. A loss would all but eliminate Zimbabwe, while a draw or win would keep Rwanda clinging to a faint hope of qualification. The head-to-head record between the two is balanced (2 wins each and a draw in 5 meetings), setting the stage for a tightly contested duel.