ZIMBABWE senior men’s football team will be hoping to register its first Group C CAF World Cup Qualifiers win on Tuesday evening when they lock horns with South Africa at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
The Warriors walk into this battle licking wounds from a humiliating 2-0 defeat against Lesotho last week Friday.
“I don’t think our position matters most in the group ahead of tomorrow’s clash because when we always play Bafana, it’s a derby and it has nothing to do with what happened before.
“It’s all about the bragging rights between the two teams and who wants it more.
“So I believe the one who wants it more will get the positive result,” said Warriors interim coach Jairos Tapera.
Zimbabwe is occupying bottom position in the group with 2 points and a win will push them up.
Zimbabwe has suffered a huge setback with two of its key defenders Teenage Hadebe and Devine Lunga doubtful ahead of the clash.
Lunga sustained a knock on his ankle on Friday in a match against Lesotho and only got back to train with the squad on Monday evening after missing Sunday and Monday morning training sessions.
Meanwhile, Nigeria was on Monday shocked by a 2-1 away defeat to Benin who are now in too of Group C with 7 points.
Nigeria and Zimbabwe remain the only teams in the group yet to win a match in the ongoing campaign.
Despite the Warriors poor run, Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is expecting a tough encounter against fellow neighbours.
“As I said before the Nigeria game, the group is unpredictable and they (Zimbabwe) having lost to Lesotho want to recover on us.
“So it is going to be a difficult game but also we have to win this one because win against them( Zimbabwe) will push us to a better position,” said Broos.
Group C CAF World Cup Qualifiers Standings
Benin – 7 points
Lesotho – 5 points
Rwanda – 4 points
South Africa – 4 points
Nigeria – 3 points
Zimbabwe – 3 points
