Zimbabwe produced a stunning second-half fightback on Thursday night, overturning a two-goal deficit to defeat Sierra Leone 3-2 in a dramatic 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group E qualifier played at the Ben M’Hamed Stadium in El-Jadida, Morocco.
Didier Gomes Da Rosa, appointed to qualify Sierra Leone for the East Africa AFCON, has already faced his first setback. The Leone Stars have missed their last two continental showcases since the Cameroon tournament in 2021.
Leone Stars, guided by a new French coach, appeared firmly in control after racing into a 2-0 lead in the opening half when Alie Conteh broke the deadlock in the seventh minute before Sallieu Tarawallie doubled Sierra Leone’s advantage in the 27th minute, putting the West Africans in a commanding position at the interval.
But Zimbabwe returned from the break with renewed purpose and quickly transformed the contest when Marshall Munetsi reduced the deficit in the 72nd minute, before Tawanda Chirewa struck four minutes later to restore parity and set up a dramatic finish.
Zimbabwe completed the turnaround with a late winner, leaving Leone Stars stunned after surrendering a two-goal advantage and ultimately walking away empty-handed. The defeat is a painful start to Sierra Leone’s campaign as they pursue qualification for the 2027 AFCON finals.
Despite their impressive first-half display, Leone Stars now face pressure to respond in their next Group E fixture against Equatorial Guinea.
As the Leone Stars proved unable to protect a commanding lead against a Zimbabwe side that refused to surrender, pressure now mounts on the new Sierra Leone coach, Didier Gomez De Rosa, ahead of their next match on Monday, September 28, in the “PAMOJA” AFCON 2027 race against Equatorial Guinea, who were earlier beaten 2-0 by the Democratic Republic of Congo.
