Southern Africa Derby: Zimbabwe Seek Revenge as South Africa Eye Top Spot
Bafana Bafana and Zimbabwe Warriors Name Starting Lineups for Crucial Durban Showdown
Bafana Bafana 🇿🇦 and the Zimbabwe Warriors 🇿🇼 have officially announced their starting elevens ahead of tonight’s pivotal 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier (Group C) encounter at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Head coaches Michael Nees and Hugo Broos have both gone full strength for what is expected to be a high-intensity Southern African derby.
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe Warriors XI
Starting XI: Arubi (GK), Zemura, Hadebe, Garamanga, Lunga, Billiat, Takwara, Nakamba (C), K. Musona, Munetsi, Chirewa.
Substitutes: Mapisa, Chipezeze, Fabisch, Maswanhise, Dzvukamanja, Jalai, Dube, Ngwenya, W. Musona, Galloway, Antonio, Murwira.
🇿🇦 Bafana Bafana XI
Starting XI: Williams (GK), Mbokazi, Mudau, Sibisi, Modiba, Mokoena, Sithole, Mbule, Apollis, Nkota, Foster.
Substitutes: Chaine, Goss, Shabalala, Aubaas, Ndamane, Makgopa, Matuludi, Morena, Moremi, Khoza, Kabini, Mbatha.
The two neighbours meet in Durban tonight at 18:00 CAT, with South Africa fighting to keep their World Cup hopes alive, while Zimbabwe play for pride and preparation ahead of AFCON 2025 in Morocco.
 Match Facts
South Africa are unbeaten in their last 7 matches (all competitions).
Zimbabwe have 0 wins in 8 games during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Bafana Bafana have won the last three head-to-head encounters against the Warriors.
 Prediction
On paper, Bafana Bafana are in better form, with sharper combinations and home advantage. However, the Warriors enter this fixture with renewed determination — and as every derby reminds us — statistics mean little when passion takes over.