World Cup 2026 qualifiers: Benin vs Zimbabwe, context and stakes | OneFootball

World Cup 2026 qualifiers: Benin vs Zimbabwe, context and stakes

Benin faces Zimbabwe this Friday at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Ebimpé, as part of matchday 7 of the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup (Group C).

Context and momentum

The Cheetahs are going through a rough patch, with seven straight matches without a win across all competitions. Their most recent outing ended in a friendly defeat to Morocco (2-1 in Fès). Despite this run, Gernot Rohr's men and their captain Steve Mounié approach this fixture with the determination to bounce back in front of their "adopted" crowd in Abidjan.

Zimbabwe, led by Michael Nees, sit at the bottom of the group. With four losses and two draws from six matches, the Warriors have struggled to make an impact in this campaign. Their 3-1 win over Mozambique in the COSAFA Cup did little to hide their struggles in qualifying.

Benin vs Zimbabwe, stakes and TV info

Benin, currently third in the group, are aiming to catch up with Rwanda (2nd) and stay in the race for a historic qualification. The Warriors, meanwhile, have little left to hope for but will still fight for every opportunity.