Di road to AFCON 2027 don open for Sierra Leone wit one match wey carry unusual circumstance: even though dem list dem as home team, dem go play away from home.
Di Leone Stars go face Zimbabwe dis Thursday at Stade Ben M’Hamed El Abdi in El Jadida, Morocco, for di opening round of di AFCON 2027 Qualifiers.
Di team wey Didier Gomes Da Rosa dey coach don begin dis new chapter wit one goal: to return to di continental tournament after dem miss di 2025 edition. Dia most recent appearance na AFCON 2021, wey dem play for Cameroon at di beginning of 2022, where dem comot for group stage.
For dis first international window, Gomes Da Rosa call up 25 players, including Osman Kakay, Juma Bah, Tyrese Fornah and Sullay Kaikai. After facing Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone go get another important match against Equatorial Guinea on September 28.
On di other side na another national team wey dey begin a new project. Zimbabwe enter di qualifiers under Spanish coach Ramón Catalá, who take charge of di Warriors in August 2026. Di coach go get several experienced players available from di start. Marshall Munetsi, Marvelous Nakamba and Tino Kadewere dey among di biggest names on a team wey compete for di most recent Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Di goal now na to qualify for consecutive editions.
Di Warriors also begin dia preparations for dis match in Morocco before dem travel to El Jadida for di opening round. After di opener, Zimbabwe go return home to face DR Congo on September 28 in dia second qualifying match.
Di matchup between Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe complete an important opening round in Group E. Di two national teams share di group wit DR Congo and Equatorial Guinea, who also face each other dis Thursday in Kinshasa.
Di format leave very little room for error. Each team go play six matches, with di top two in di group qualifying directly for AFCON 2027. Di next edition of di continental tournament go take place from June 19 to July 17, 2027, and three countries go host am for di first time: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
For Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe, di road begins in Morocco. Di match between Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe in di opening round of di AFCON 2027 Qualifiers go dey available LIVE in di United States on beIN SPORTS. Di match go kick off at 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT.
