EL JADIDA, Morocco, 24th September 2026 – Sierra Leone’s campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations got off to a heartbreaking start on Wednesday as the Leone Stars surrendered a 2-0 half-time lead to lose 3-2 to Zimbabwe in their Group E opener.
The Group E Matchday 1 tie – the first ever senior meeting between the two nations – was played at the Stade Ben Ahmed El Abdi in El Jadida, Morocco, because Sierra Leone still does not have a CAF-approved stadium to host international matches.
It was a classic tale of two halves for Coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa’s men.
The Leone Stars, ranked 122nd in the world – eight places above Zimbabwe’s 130th – were dominant in the first half. Playing an attacking 4-3-3, they took the lead through Alie Conteh, popularly known as Nzonzi, before FC Kallon skipper Sallieu Tarawallie doubled the advantage before the break. At 2-0, Sierra Leone looked set for a dream start.
But the second half belonged entirely to the Warriors. Under new Spanish coach Ramón Catalá, who was taking charge of his first competitive game, Zimbabwe came out pressing higher and punishing Sierra Leone’s deep defensive line.
Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Tawanda Chirewa pulled one back before midfielder Marshall Munetsi struck a brace to complete a stunning comeback and seal all three points for Zimbabwe.
A Familiar Problem
The collapse will feel painfully familiar to Sierra Leonean fans. The Leone Stars have struggled to hold on to leads away from home, and the lack of a home stadium continues to be a major disadvantage. Since the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown was blacklisted by CAF in 2021 for failing to meet international standards, Sierra Leone has been forced to play its home games in Liberia, Guinea and now Morocco, denying the team the famous Freetown atmosphere.
The result leaves Sierra Leone bottom of Group E after Matchday 1. The group also includes giants DR Congo, who Zimbabwe will host on Monday at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
For Sierra Leone, qualification for AFCON 2027 – which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda – remains the big target. The Leone Stars last qualified for AFCON in 2021 in Cameroon, ending a 25-year absence, but missed out on the 2023 edition in Ivory Coast.
Coach Gomes Da Rosa, who was appointed in February 2025, will now need to lift his side quickly. The Leone Stars next face a must-not-lose game against DR Congo in October, where anything less than a point will put early qualification hopes in serious jeopardy.
Final Score: Sierra Leone 2-3 Zimbabwe
