DR Congo 🇨🇩 vs 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone: Check Out Kick-Off Time, Venue and How to Watch the Match
Bernice Bangura The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone are set to face the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) today, Thursday, November 12, 2026, in a crucial Matchday 3 encounter of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Sierra Leone will be hoping to revive their qualifying campaign and secure their first points after losing their opening two Group E matches. However, they face a difficult challenge against a DR Congo side that has won both of its opening fixtures and currently leads the group.
The match will take place at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa, DR Congo, with kick-off scheduled for 4:00 PM Sierra Leone time (5:00 PM local time in Kinshasa).
The encounter is the first of two meetings between the countries during the November international window. They will meet again on Tuesday, November 17, in Morocco, where Sierra Leone will play its designated home fixture because its national stadium is not currently approved to host international matches.
Match Details
Match: DR Congo 🇨🇩 vs 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone
Competition: 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers
Stage: Group E – Matchday 3
Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026
Kick-off: 4:00 PM Sierra Leone time
Venue: Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, DR Congo
How Sierra Leone Arrive
The Leone Stars enter Thursday’s match under pressure after suffering defeats in their opening two Group E fixtures.
Sierra Leone began their campaign with a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Zimbabwe on September 24. The Leone Stars had taken a 2-0 lead through Alie Conteh and Sallieu Tarawallie before Zimbabwe mounted a second-half comeback to secure all three points.
Four days later, Sierra Leone suffered another setback, losing 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea in their second qualifying match.
Those results have left the Leone Stars bottom of Group E without a point, making the double-header against DR Congo particularly important for their hopes of reaching the tournament.
DR Congo’s Strong Start
DR Congo, on the other hand, have made an impressive start to their qualifying campaign.
The Leopards opened with a 2-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea before defeating Zimbabwe 2-1 in their second fixture.
With six points from two matches, DR Congo currently lead Group E and will be looking to maintain their winning run against Sierra Leone.
The Congolese side will also have the backing of home supporters, with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) authorising up to 18,000 spectators at the Stade des Martyrs after the fixture was initially scheduled to be played behind closed doors.
Didier Gomes Da Rosa Names 25-Man Squad
Head coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa has selected a 25-man squad for the November double-header against DR Congo.
The squad includes several established Leone Stars players, alongside younger talents playing across Europe, Africa and North America.
Among the notable selections are captain Osman Kakay, defender Abdulai Juma Bah, Tyrese Fornah, Augustus Kargbo, Sullay Kaikai, Alhassan Koroma, Daniel Kanu and Raees Bangura-Williams.
The squad also includes goalkeeper Ibrahim Sesay, midfielder Ibrahim Turay and forward Santigie Yusuf Sesay.
Da Rosa will be hoping his players can deliver a strong performance in Kinshasa and give Sierra Leone a much-needed boost in the qualifying campaign.
Group E Standings
Going into Matchday 3, DR Congo occupy the top position with six points, while Sierra Leone are fourth with no points.
DR Congo: 6 points
Zimbabwe: 3 points
Equatorial Guinea: 3 points
Sierra Leone: 0 points
The top two teams in the group will qualify for the 2027 AFCON tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
How to Watch DR Congo vs Sierra Leone
The match is scheduled to be broadcast live on Sierraloaded Mobile App. Download the app so as not to miss any action. Fans should check announcements from the Sierra Leone Football Association and local broadcasters for any additional viewing options.
The Road Ahead
Following Thursday’s encounter in Kinshasa, the Leone Stars will face DR Congo again on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, in the return fixture at the Stade El Abdi in El Jadida, Morocco.
For Sierra Leone, the two matches present an important opportunity to get their qualifying campaign back on track. The Leone Stars will need to produce a strong performance against the group leaders if they are to keep their hopes of reaching the 2027 AFCON alive.
Match: DR Congo 🇨🇩 vs 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone
Kick-off: 4:00 PM Sierra Leone time
Venue: Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa
Competition: 2027 AFCON Qualifiers – Group E, Matchday 3