Zim president Mnangagwa offers national football team US$300 000 if they beat Benin and Nigeria

BY SPORTSCAST WRITER

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s football team will share US$300 000 in winning bonus if they can beat both Benin and Nigeria in their floundering World Cup qualification campaign, president Emmerson Mnangagwa announced on Thursday hours before the first match.

Bottom-of-the-table Zimbabwe face Benin in Durban this evening (6pm local time) before traveling to Nigeria for the return leg of their Group C clash with the Super Eagles next Tuesday.

The Warriors find themselves bottom of the pool following a winless streak in their opening four games. The Zimbabweans held Nigeria and Rwanda in the opening back-to-back ties of the qualifiers in November 2023. Lacklustre performances last year then saw the Warriors suffer defeats to Lesotho and South Africa in the second batch of games.

The Zimbabwean government hopes the monetary inducement can revive the Warriors' qualification bid for the 2026 World Cup finals. Zimbabwe has never qualified for the World Cup in their history.

“In recognition of the team’s efforts and as a gesture of encouragement, His Excellency President Emmerson D. Mnangagwa has offered a winning bonus of US$150 000 to the players, technical team and support staff, for each victory in their upcoming matches against Benin on 20 March and Nigeria on 25 March,” read a statement released by Zimbabwe’s FA.

“This support underscores the government’s unwavering commitment to the growth and success of football in Zimbabwe and the aspirations of the Warriors as they strive for World Cup qualification. The nation is urged to rally behind the team, as they carry our hopes and pride onto the field.”

The Warriors are already guaranteed of $1 million financial support from the government for qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco at the end of the year. After securing qualification, every member of the squad was rewarded with $6 500 each by Mnangagwa.

Warriors coach Michael Nees, who was only appointed last July, wasn’t yet in charge when Zimbabwe opened their World Cup quest with two points from four games. The 57-year-old German, who immediately injected a new lease of life in the Warriors by guiding them to the Afcon finals, now faces the uphill task of rebuilding the Southern African country’s World Cup campaign.

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