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Sierra Leone’s national football team, the Leone Stars, has been drawn into a competitive group for the 2027 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers alongside Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The official draw ceremony took place on Tuesday, with football officials and fans across the country closely following the proceedings.
At the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Secretariat, staff led by Head of Communications Sorrie Ibrahim Sesay watched with anticipation as the Leone Stars discovered their opponents on the road to Africa’s biggest football tournament.
The draw places Sierra Leone in a group featuring three formidable opponents. Zimbabwe brings regional rivalry and physical play, Equatorial Guinea has proven to be a tough competitor in recent AFCON tournaments, and the Democratic Republic of Congo boasts a rich football history with talented players competing across Europe’s top leagues.
The qualification campaign is scheduled to commence in September 2026. The Leone Stars will need to finish among the top two teams in the group to secure a spot at the 2027 AFCON finals.
Football analysts describe the group as highly competitive, noting that every match will be crucial for Sierra Leone’s quest to return to the continental showpiece. The Leone Stars last qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021, held in Cameroon, where they exited at the group stage.
The SLFA has yet to announce specific match dates and venues, but preparations are expected to begin immediately as the team aims to navigate what promises to be a fiercely contested journey toward the 2027 tournament.
