by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Tunisia, Botswana Share the Spoils in Radès

Tunisia and Botswana played to an exciting 2-2 draw in Rades on Monday during Matchday 2 Group H of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers.

The Eagles of Carthage are still seeking their first victory after starting with a 1-1 draw against co-hosts Uganda, while Botswana also has two points from their first two matches following a draw with Libya.

Thatayaone Kgamanyane put Botswana ahead in the 37th minute, but Hazem Mastouri responded for Tunisia with two goals around halftime. Botswana equalised on the hour mark through Lebogang Ditsele, ensuring the points were shared.

Both teams now sit on two points in Group H, with Uganda and Libya set to face off on Tuesday. Uganda has already secured a spot in the finals as one of the co-hosts, meaning only the top team outside Uganda will qualify, heightening the importance of each point.

In other Group E matches, DR Congo continued their perfect start with a 2-1 win over Zimbabwe, thanks to goals from Yoane Wissa and Samuel Moutoussamy, while Marshall Munetsi scored for Zimbabwe. DR Congo leads the group with six points.

Equatorial Guinea picked up their first win with a 1-0 triumph over Sierra Leone, courtesy of Loren Zuniga’s early goal.

Burkina Faso also added to their points tally in Group F, securing a 1-0 victory over the Central African Republic thanks to a goal from teenager Aboubacar Camara. Mauritania and Benin will complete their Matchday 2 fixtures on Tuesday in Abidjan.

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

DR Congo Stays Top of Group E; Sierra Leone Falls Again

DR Congo is off to a strong start in Group E, securing a vital 2-1 win over Zimbabwe, while Sierra Leone struggles with back-to-back defeats.

After losing their opening match to Zimbabwe, Coach Da Rosa’s side fell 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé on Monday in Cameroon. Just under a minute into the match, Loren Zúñiga struck a right-footed shot from a tough angle on the left side, finding the bottom-left corner of the net.

The Leone Stars now face a pivotal challenge to turn their fortunes around and keep their hopes of advancement alive.

At the National Sports Stadium in Zimbabwe, DR Congo’s Leopards netted two goals, with Yoane Wissa and Samuel Moutoussamy scoring in the 30th and 45th minutes, respectively, going into halftime with a comfortable two-goal lead.

In the second half, the home team fought hard for a comeback, but their only goal came too late, with Wolves attacker Marshall Munetsi finding the net in the 90+3 minute, leaving no time for them to push for an equaliser.

Currently, DR Congo is firmly at the top of the group, having secured six points from their two opening victories. Meanwhile, both Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea trail behind with three points each as they gear up for their matches in November. Sierra Leone finds itself at the bottom of Group E, still searching for its first points.

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

No room for defeat for Equatorial Guinea or Sierra Leone

Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone are set to clash on Matchday 2 of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Group E, both aiming for their first points in the qualification stages.

Both teams will go out searching for a positive outcome in this crucial contest, as going two games without a point is not an option, especially in the tough Group E as they compete for a spot in next year’s East Africa Cup of Nations.

Equatorial Guinea’s campaign got off to a rocky start as they suffered a 2–0 defeat against DR Congo, with Chancel Mbemba and Yoane Wissa finding the back of the net, leaving the team looking to regroup and refine their strategy.

Meanwhile, Sierra Leone faced a heartbreaking turn of events after a promising start; they held a 2–0 lead at halftime against Zimbabwe, only to watch it slip away as they fell to a 3–2 defeat, with Marshall Munetsi scoring two crucial goals to complete the comeback for Zimbabwe.

This highly anticipated match will unfold at the Stade Omnisport Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé, a neutral ground chosen for its accessibility.

The last time these two teams met in a competitive setting was during the AFCON 2022 tournament, where Equatorial Guinea emerged victorious with a narrow 1–0 win.

With just six matches in the group stage and only the top two teams advancing to the next round, another loss would put either side in a precarious position, making points absolutely essential as they strive to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Match Details

Match: Equatorial Guinea vs Sierra Leone

Competition: 2027 AFCON Qualifiers

Matchday: 2

Group: E

Date: Monday, September 28, 2026

Kickoff: 17 GMT

Stadium: Stade Omnisport Ahmadou Ahidjo

City: Yaoundé, Cameroon

Broadcast: beIN SPORTS
South Africa kicked off their 2027 qualification campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Guinea at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

South Africa Edge Guinea as Kenya Rescue Draw Against Eritrea

South Africa kicked off their 2027 qualification campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Guinea at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

Goals from Ime Okon and Samukele Kabini gave Bafana Bafana a deserved advantage, with both players finding the net to hand the hosts a winning start.

Guinea responded with a goal in the 69th minute, but South Africa held firm to secure all three points and begin their campaign on a positive note after Samukele Kabini’s left-footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Yamela Mbuthuma.

In the day’s other qualifier, Kenya fought back to earn a 1-1 draw against Eritrea. Nahom Girmai Netabay put Eritrea ahead, giving the visitors hope of a famous victory.

However, Kenya struck late through Ryan Ogam, who tapped home from close range at the near post to cancel out Netabay’s opener and rescue a valuable point.

The result ensured Kenya avoided defeat as both sides settled for a share of the spoils in an entertaining encounter.

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone arrive in Cameroon for crucial Equatorial Guinea clash

After suffering defeat in their opening Group E match against Zimbabwe’s Warriors, the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone have arrived in Cameroon ahead of a crucial encounter with Equatorial Guinea.

The West African team understands that securing a positive outcome is crucial to keeping their qualification dreams alive, especially after the disappointing start.

A loss would undoubtedly put more pressure on head coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa, who was brought in with the mission of leading Sierra Leone to qualify for the East Africa AFCON.

The Leone Stars have missed their last two continental showcases since the Cameroon tournament in 2021. Their opponents are also under pressure, having lost their opening fixture to DR Congo, making the contest a high-stakes affair for both sides.

The Sierra Leone delegation touched down in Cameroon on Friday and immediately shifted focus to preparations for the decisive clash.

Head coach and his players will be aiming to correct the mistakes from the defeat to Zimbabwe and produce a much-improved performance.

With both teams still searching for their first points in the group, Monday’s encounter promises to be fiercely contested. Victory for either side would revive their campaign, while another defeat would leave their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.

Their History

Equatorial Guinea triumphed over Sierra Leone in the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2021 held in Cameroon. The Nzalang Nacional secured their spot in the next stage with a hard-fought 1-0 victory in a Group E match that took place at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium on January 20, 2022.

The match turned in favour of Equatorial Guinea thanks to Pablo Ganet’s goal in the 38th minute. Ganet made the most of a quickly taken free kick by José Machín, skillfully placing the ball past Sierra Leone’s goalkeeper, Mohamed Nbalie Kamara.

They’ve managed to secure only two victories in their last seven matches, suffering four losses and drawing twice against Sierra Leone.