AFCON 2027 qualifiers: Equatorial Guinea beat Sierra Leone 1-0 to record first win

Loren Zuñiga scored the only goal as Equatorial Guinea secured their first victory in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 1-0 win over Sierra Leone on Monday.

The Nzalang Nacional took advantage of a mistake in the Sierra Leone defence, with Zuñiga intercepting a poor pass before beating the remaining defenders and finding the net from a tight angle.

The victory gives Equatorial Guinea their first three points of the qualifying campaign after they opened with a defeat by the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Zuñiga punishes defensive error

Equatorial Guinea made the breakthrough after capitalising on an error from the Sierra Leone defence.

Following an intercepted pass, Zuñiga drove forward, dribbled past the defenders and produced a composed finish from a difficult angle to put his side ahead.

Sierra Leone responded by creating opportunities in search of an equaliser, but they were unable to find a way through the Equatorial Guinea defence.

The result leaves Equatorial Guinea with three points as they look to recover from their opening defeat and remain in contention for a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Sierra Leone remain without a point

For Sierra Leone, the defeat leaves them still searching for their first points in the qualifying campaign.

They were unable to turn their attacking opportunities into an equaliser despite a competitive second-half display.

Equatorial Guinea will now take confidence from their first qualifying victory as the race for places at the 2027 AFCON continues.