Sierra Leone’s bid to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations has taken a significant blow following a 1-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea in their second Group E qualifier in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
This latest loss means Sierra Leone has now lost both of their opening matches in the race to qualify for the 2027 tournament, leaving them at the bottom of Group E without any points. New head coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa faces mounting pressure as the campaign struggles to gain momentum.
Just days earlier, the Leone Stars suffered a heart-wrenching 3-2 defeat against Zimbabwe, having led 2-0 at half-time. Alie Conteh opened the scoring in the seventh minute and Sallieu Tarawallie doubled the lead in the 27th minute. However, Zimbabwe’s comeback started in the 72nd minute when Marshall Munetsi found the net, followed shortly by an equaliser from Tawanda Chirewa. Munetsi then clinched the match for Zimbabwe in the 88th minute.
Against Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone found themselves behind early when Loren Zuniga scored within the first minute. Although Sierra Leone recorded more possession and created more chances, they failed to convert any opportunities, resulting in another 1-0 defeat.
The Group E standings are increasingly dire for Sierra Leone. DR Congo leads the group with six points from two matches, while Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea are both on three points. Sierra Leone remains at the bottom with none.
Despite the bleak outlook, Sierra Leone is not yet out of contention. The group consists of four teams playing six matches each, with the top two qualifying for the tournament. Sierra Leone still has four matches remaining, allowing for a possible 12 points. The immediate focus must be on gaining points to stay in the race.
For Didier Gomes Da Rosa, the pressure mounts as his first competitive campaign has begun with two defeats. He will need to find a way to convert promising play into results as the team prepares for their upcoming fixtures, which are now crucial for their hopes of qualification.
BY FESTUS CONTEH
