World Cup
World Cup qualifier with Benin and Nigeria: Zimbabwe recall Knowledge Musona after three-year absence
Zimbabwe’s hopes of qualifying for their first-ever FIFA World Cup have received a massive boost with the return of Knowledge Musona, who has been recalled to the Warriors squad after a three-year absence.
The former national team captain, who last played for Zimbabwe in 2022 before announcing his retirement from international football, has accepted a call-up from the national team ahead of two crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Benin and Nigeria.
Musona, now playing for Al-Okhdood in Saudi Arabia, is expected to provide vital experience and leadership to a squad looking to make history.
Musona’s return headlines a well-balanced squad, as the head coach aims to combine seasoned internationals with emerging talents.
In defence, the Warriors will rely on the Premier Soccer League and Serie A experience of Jordan Zemura (Udinese) and Divine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns) to provide stability at the back.
In midfield, Marshall Munetsi (Reims) and Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town) are expected to dictate the tempo, adding defensive solidity and creativity in attack.
Up front, Prince Dube (Young Africans) and Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell) will look to provide the firepower, while Tawanda Chirewa (Huddersfield Town) is an exciting young talent who could surprise.
The Warriors will first face Benin on March 20 in Durban, a match seen as a must-win to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Four days later, Zimbabwe will travel to Uyo, Nigeria, where they will face a star-studded Super Eagles side, making it one of their toughest challenges yet.
With the team currently struggling in the qualifiers, a positive result against Benin will be crucial to building confidence before facing one of Africa’s strongest teams.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants), Marley Tavaziva (Brentford), Martin Mapisa (MWOS FC)
Defenders: Jordan Zemura (Udinese), Divine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns), Gerald Takwara (Al Minaa SC), Munashe Garananga (FC Copenhagen), Isheanesu Mauchi (Simba Bhora), Peter Muduhwa (Scotland), Godknows Murwira (Scotland), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos)
Midfielders: Marshall Munetsi (Reims), Andy Rinomhota (Cardiff City), Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town), Mihood), Tawanda Chirewa (Huddersfield Town), Knowledge Musona (Al-Okhdood)
Forwards: Prince Dube (Young Africans), Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell), Terrence Dzvukamanja (Supersport United), Tymon Machope (Scotland), Walter Musona (Scotland)
Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
World Cup
Jalal, the Moroccan referee of the Rwanda-Nigeria match flashed 13 yellow cards in two games!
Caution should be a watchword for the Rwandan and Nigerian players when they file out for a World Cup qualifying duel on Friday 21 March.
The Moroccan referee for the match, Jayed Jalal, is very assertive. He controls matches with an iron hand, bringing sanity to the game.
The 37-year-old could be recalled issuing a whopping 13 yellow cards in two of his last international engagements.
In Namibia’s scoreless draw with Cameroon in last November’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, he flashed the yellow card five times.
Before that, he had handled the Angola 2-1 win over Sudan where eight yellow cards were issued.
The Super Eagles should be accustomed to the referee for his stern control.
Jalal was the referee of the Ghana versus Nigeria friendly match at the Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, almost exactly to the forthcoming duel with Rwanda.
The Moroccan issued four yellow cards, two to each side and a straight red card to a Ghanaian, Jerome Opoku in the 56th minute.
In another match involving the Nigeria U-20 side with Senegal last year, February, Jalal issued four yellow cards, one of which was a second caution to Nigeria’s Ahmed Abdulahi leading to the player’s expulsion in the 90th minute of the match.
Jalal will travel to Kigali with fellow Moroccans, Mostapha Akarkad and Hamza Nassiri who will serve as first and second assistant referees respectively.
Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Eric Chelle has selected 23 players for the Super Eagles’ final 23 players for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, including goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards.
In the squad are two home boys, Remo Stars goalkeeper Kayode Bankole and Niger Tornadoes’ Papa Daniel Mustapha.
Both were also in the Nigerian squad that qualified for the African Nations Championship.
The others are the regulars except for the return of some previously exempted ones like Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain) who is being recalled after his last-minute drop out of the AFCON 2023 squad and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England).
The first squad of Chelle include goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali as well as defenders William Ekong, Calvin Bassey and Olaoluwa Aina.
In the midfield are Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen and Simon Moses.
Also in the final list are defenders Bruno Onyemaechi and Bright Osayi-Samuel, midfielders Raphael Onyedika and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, and forward, Samuel Chukwueze.
Czech Republic-based defender Igoh Ogbu makes the final cut, alongside Belgium-based forward Tolu Arokodare.
Nigeria will confront group C leaders Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, 21st March before taking on Zimbabwe’s Warriors at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo four days later.
LIST OF 23 SUPER EAGLES FOR RWANDA, ZIMBABWE GAMES
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium)
Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Benin coach Gernot Rohr handed a first call up to Italian based teenage striker Candas Fiogbé as he named a 25-man squad to take on Zimbabwe and South Africa in the 2-26 FIFA World Cup qualifiers this month.
The 19-year-old Fiogbe has yet to play a senior match but has been competing for Atalanta’s under-20 team in Italy’s Primavera 1 league and their under-19 side in the UEFA Youth League, where he has netted six goals.
There is also a recall for defender Brandon Agounon, who was in the squad one year ago but has yet to win a cap.
But Benin must do without the injured French-based pair of Aiyegun Tosin and Cédric Hountondji while Olivier Verdon has been left out for disciplinary reasons, Rohr told a press conference on Monday.
Verdon, 29, competed for Benin at the 2019 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt.
There are only two home-based players in the squad with the rest drawn from clubs in 17 different countries.
Benin play away against Zimbabwe in Durban, South Africa on March 20 and then travel to Abidjan in the Ivory Coast where they are hosting their game against Bafana Bafana on March 25.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Saturnin Allagbé (Botev Vratsa, Bulgaria), Marcel Dandjinou (JDR Stars, South Africa), Serges Obassa (Remo Stars, Nigeria)
Defenders: Moise Adilehou (Laval, France), Brandon Agounon (Châteauroux, France), Rodrigue Fassinou (Coton Sport Benin), David Kiki (Steaua Bucharest, Romania), Rachid Moumini (Ayéma), Tamimou Ouorou (Hatta, United Arab Emirates), Yohan Roche (Petrolul 52, Romania), Rabiou Sankamao (Wydad Fès, Morocco), Mohamed Tijani (Yverdon Sport, Switzerland)
Midfielders: Mattéo Ahlinvi (Arsenal Tula, Russia), Mariano Ahouangbo (Soliman, Tunisia), Gislain Ahoudo (Gabès, Tunisia), Samadou Attidjikou (Al Masry, Egypt), Sessi d’Almeida (Apollon Limassol. Cyprus), Dodo Dokou (Smouha, Egypt), Imourane Hassane (Grasshoppers Zurich, Switzerland)
Forwards: Jodel Dossou (Victoria Rosport, Luxembourg), Candas Fiogbé (Atalanta, Italy), Andréas Hountondji (Standard Liège, Belgium), Steve Mounié (FC Augsburg, Germany), Junior Olaitan (Grenoble, France), Steve-Waren Traoré (Haka, Finland)
-CAF
Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
This is my story: Amaju Pinnick opens up on FIFA Council Election
World Cup qualifier with Benin and Nigeria: Zimbabwe recall Knowledge Musona after three-year absence
Second-half comeback sends Dortmund into Champions League quarters again
- MEDIA5 days ago
SV Awards: I’m committed to Nigeria’s football development says Eguaoje
- World Cup1 week ago
BREAKING! Chelle rolls out his first ever Nigerian squad
- Badminton3 days ago
Nigeria’s Eniola Bolaji clinches gold at Spanish Para Badminton International II
- Nigerian Football1 week ago
Rivers Utd, Shooting Stars setup potential thrilling triangular battle
- Governing Bodies9 hours ago
BREAKING! Amaju Pinnick loses FIFA seat
- Badminton1 week ago
Edo Sports Commission, Badminton Federation of Nigeria hold training for students
- Governing Bodies5 days ago
CAS rules in Eto’s favour to contest in CAF Elections
- WOMEN'S FOOTBALL7 days ago
FIFA pushes back inaugural Women’s Club World Cup, introduces new competition