Sierra Leone 2-3 Zimbabwe: Munetsi double completes dramatic Africa Cup of Nations comeback

Zimbabwe came from two goals down to beat Sierra Leone 3-2 in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying opener, with Marshall Munetsi scoring twice in the second half to complete a dramatic turnaround.

Sierra Leone

• M. Jalloh
• O. Kakay
• Alpha Turay
• Abdulay Bah
• T. Fornah
• M. Kamara
• Alhassan Koroma
• I. Kanu
• Alie Conteh

Zimbabwe

• E. Chipezeze
• S. Fusire
• M. Garananga
• Shane Maroodza
• M. Nakamba
• A. Rinomhota
• Tawanda Jethro Maswanhise
• M. Munetsi
• T. Chirewa
• T. Ngwenya

Substitutions:

Sierra Leone

• Alhassan Koroma (Kallum Cesay, 45)
• Abdulay Bah (Michael-John Kamson-Kamara, 56)
• T. Fornah (S Sesay, 83)
• M. Kamara (D. Kanu, 90)

Zimbabwe

• S. Fusire (Bill Leeroy Antonio, 45)
• Shane Maroodza (Divine Lunga, 68)
• A. Rinomhota (Emmanuel Jalai, 74)
• T. Ngwenya (Corbin Mthunzi, 85)
• M. Garananga

Ball possession:

Sierra Leone made the perfect start when Alie Conteh opened the scoring in the seventh minute. The forward struck again in the match data at the same time, although the official score remained 1-0.

Passes:

Zimbabwe responded strongly after the interval. Munetsi equalised in the 72nd minute before T. Chirewa put the visitors ahead four minutes later.

Defense:

Munetsi then completed his double in the 88th minute to give Zimbabwe all three points in Match Round 1.

Face-to-face:

The result represents a painful collapse for Sierra Leone, who had held the lead for more than an hour before Zimbabwe’s second-half pressure turned the game on its head.

Fouls:

• Yellow cards:
• Shane Maroodza (Zimbabwe) at 51 minute
• Bill Leeroy Antonio (Zimbabwe) at 75 minute

The last five games (including this match):

• Sierra Leone – L
• Zimbabwe – W

Top 5 Africa Cup of Nations – Qualification scorers:

Line-ups:

Next games:

• Sierra Leone will play with Equatorial Guinea. September 28 at 16:00 (GMT), on None.
• Zimbabwe will play with Congo DR. September 28 at 16:00 (GMT), on None.