The Leone Stars take on Group E leaders DR Congo this evening in a high-stakes 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier that could define Sierra Leone’s hopes of ending a five-year absence from the continental finals.
Kick-off is at 16:00 GMT (17:00 local time) on Thursday, 12 November 2026, at the Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte in Kinshasa. It is Matchday 3 of the qualifiers.
Didier Gomes Da Rosa’s side sit bottom of the group with zero points after two matches. They led 2-0 against Zimbabwe before collapsing to a 3-2 defeat, then lost 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea. Another reverse would leave their qualification campaign hanging by a thread ahead of the return fixture on Tuesday.
DR Congo, coached by Sébastien Desabre, top the table with a perfect six points. They beat Equatorial Guinea 2-0 and Zimbabwe 2-1. The Leopards are clear favourites, with attacking quality in Yoane Wissa and Cédric Bakambu, and have won their last three meetings with Sierra Leone. They are without injured full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and first-choice goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.
The return leg on 17 November will be played in Morocco rather than Sierra Leone. The SLFA confirmed that attempts to host in Guinea or Liberia failed due to scheduling conflicts, and DR Congo rejected a request to move the date to 16 November. The match will take place at Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca (or nearby El Jadida facilities).
The Leone Stars arrived in Kinshasa on 8 November and have steadily built their camp. Foreign-based players continued to join, with preparations intensifying under Gomes Da Rosa. A late squad change saw Malachi Jones withdraw for personal reasons; he was replaced by U-20 standout Papay Gumba Mansaray of Ports Authority, who is already with the team and could earn a senior debut.
Midfielder Samuel Bekoe (Hafia FC) is also in the group. Any appearance would be his first competitive cap after previous friendly outings. Key figures expected to feature include captain Osman Kakay, Augsburg defender Juma Bah, and in-form Sallieu Tarawallie. Attacking options remain strong with Augustus Kargbo, Alhassan Koroma, Sullay Kaikai, Idris Kanu and others available. Recent arrivals of senior players have brought the squad close to full strength.
Gomes Da Rosa has stressed the need for greater concentration after lapses in the opening fixtures. Sierra Leone’s task is clear: stay organised, avoid conceding early, and exploit counter-attacking chances. A point in Kinshasa would be a significant result and provide a platform for the Morocco game.
All eyes turn to the Stade des Martyrs this evening. For the Leone Stars and their supporters, the road back to the AFCON finals starts here.
