Zimbabwe vs Benin Preview & Prediction | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying (CAF)

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Zimbabwe would have believed they could have mounted a challenge for qualification but they have instead struggled and sit rock-bottom in Group C ahead of facing Benin this week.

Kick-off date/time: Thursday 20th March, 2025: UK – 4:00pm / US ET – 12:00pm / US PT – 9:00am

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – FIFA+ / US – FIFA+

Key stats

• Zimbabwe have won only one of their last 22 World Cup qualifying matches (D8 L13). They are without a win in ten (D4 L6), since a 3-1 home victory against Somalia in September 2019.
• Benin are aiming to win three successive World Cup qualifying matches for the first time since a three match winning sequence from October 2009 to June 2012.

Zimbabwe vs Benin Prediction

Zimbabwe have some emerging talents but they have struggled in CAF’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification with just two points collected from their four matches as they now take on a Benin side that remain in contention for top spot in Group C.

The Zimbabweans, with former Israel U21 and Kosovo U21 boss Michael Nees at the helm, started with a goalless draw against Rwanda in qualification before then sharing an impressive 1-1 draw against an albeit underperforming Nigeria side. Since those reasonable results, though, they have suffered defeats to both Lesotho and South Africa.

Benin come into this one having most recently failing to qualify for the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations out of a tough group alongside the aforementioned Nigeria and Rwanda as well as Libya. In FIFA World Cup qualification, they did defeat Nigeria in June to back up a win against Rwanda but they benefitted from home advantage at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny.

Zimbabwe will be expected to be quite low-scoring throughout this campaign, whilst Benin will hope to pinch a result via the likes of Steve Mounie or Jodel Dossou.

Zimbabwe vs Benin Tip: Double chance – Benin to win or draw