DR Congo host Sierra Leone with 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification in sight

DR Congo face Sierra Leone at home on Thursday as both sides continue their campaigns to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Group E fixture will kick off at 17:00 French time and 17:00 in Kinshasa at Stade des Martyrs de Kinshasa. The match will be shown live in France on beIN SPORTS 1, while viewers in DR Congo can watch it on RTNC and Canal+ Sport 1.

The Leopards are the only team at the top of the group after winning both of their opening matches. They began with a 2-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea before beating Zimbabwe 2-1 in late September.

Zimbabwe are second, three points behind DR Congo. Another victory would leave Sebastien Desabre’s side needing just one more match to secure qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

DR Congo’s squad has been affected by one injury-related change. Willy Kambwala is unavailable and has been replaced by TP Mazembe central defender Magloire Ntambwe Kalonji. The rest of the squad is available for the fixture.

The teams have met three times since 2014, with DR Congo winning every match. The Leopards recorded two victories against the Leone Stars during qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, winning 2-0 and 3-1 in Kinshasa.

Their most recent meeting ended in a 3-0 friendly victory for DR Congo in Casablanca, Morocco, on 27 September 2022.

Sierra Leone are bottom of Group E without a point after losing 2-1 to Zimbabwe and 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea. Another defeat would leave their qualification hopes in serious danger.

The match will be played at 17:00 in both France and Kinshasa, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00 in Lubumbashi.