Somalia 1-0 Zimbabwe

DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti – Zimbabwe suffered a humiliating defeat to the lowest ranked team in the world on Thursday as Somalia clinched their first ever World Cup match in Djibouti.

Ranked 202nd in the world, Somalia halted a run of 19 successive defeats stretching back eight years as Anwar Sid Ali Shakunda scored an 86th-minute winner to take control of this 2022 World Cup preliminary round qualifier.

Zimbabwe, who played in the Africa Cup of Nations finals two months ago and are 90 places higher in the FIFA rankings, had been expected to easily win a game played on neutral territory because of the unstable security situation in Somalia.

Joey Antipas’ men who were missing several key players were in total control and should have been out of sight by the time Shakunda rose to head home at the back post and earn Somalia a first win in a major tournament preliminary since beating Kenya in Cup of Nations qualification in 1984.

Somalia, with seven debutants among a number of new players from immigrant communities in Europe and north America, still have to get through 90 minutes of Tuesday’s return match in Harare if they are to advance to the group stage.

Zimbabwe were without several key players including defender Teenage Hadebe, talisman Khama Billiat, midfielder Marvelous Nakamba and forward Tino Kadewere – but they still had enough in reserve to avoid a most unlikely defeat.

Zimbabwe’s offensive players Terrence Dzukamanja, Admiral Muskwe, Evans Rusike and Kudakwashe Mahachi all came close to scoring at various stages throughout the match but lacked composure in front of goal.

Dzukamanja was pulled out for Clive Augusto late on while Knox Mutizwa came on for Djukamanja with six minutes to go as the Warriors searched for the winner, only for the Somalis to break clear and seal a famous win.

The return fixture, originally pencilled-in for Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo on Sunday, September 8, will now be played in Harare on Tuesday, September 10. Somalia requested an extension after failing to secure flights.

Zimbabwe Line Up vs Somalia

Chipezeze, Phiri, Muduwa, Lunga, Mudimu, Munetsi, E. Rusike, Mahachi, Dzukamanja (Mutizwa 84th), Kamusoko, Muskwe (Augusto 73rd)