DR Congo target a third straight win: prediction for DR Congo vs Sierra Leone
The third-round 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between DR Congo and Sierra Leone will take place on November 12, 2026, at Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa. The hosts have made a confident start to the qualifying campaign, winning both matches to top Group E with six points. The visitors, by contrast, have lost their opening two fixtures and sit bottom of the table, making this clash potentially crucial to the race for a place at the continental tournament.
DR Congo: strong start must be backed up with a home win
DR Congo have returned to competitive action in fine fashion after their World Cup campaign ended with a defeat to England in the round of 32. Sébastien Desabre's side opened their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with wins over Equatorial Guinea (2-0) and Zimbabwe (2-1), giving them a three-point lead at the top of Group E. The Congolese will now look to repeat their strong start to the previous qualifying campaign, when they won their first four matches in a row.
However, October's friendlies showed that the hosts are still some way off peak form. They lost 2-0 to Uganda in one of two meetings and drew the other 1-1, bringing their winning run to an end. Ahead of the Sierra Leone match, the coaching staff are also dealing with injury concerns: goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau is still recovering from an Achilles tendon injury, while defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka remains sidelined, leaving captain Chancel Mbemba with an important role to play in defense once again.
Sierra Leone: results crisis deepens after coaching change
The visitors head to Kinshasa in a difficult position, having yet to pick up a point in qualifying. Appointed over the summer, Didier Gomes Da Rosa has been unable to turn things around quickly, with Sierra Leone losing both of their opening qualifying matches under his leadership. The 3-2 defeat to Zimbabwe was especially painful, as Sierra Leone let a two-goal lead slip.
That loss was part of a wider slump: the team have now suffered three consecutive defeats and risk losing four matches in a row for the first time in a long while. Sierra Leone's last win in a competitive match came against Djibouti in October 2025, and a return to the Africa Cup of Nations after their appearance at the 2021 tournament is looking increasingly unlikely. There is some hope in Saliu Tarawally, who has been involved in three goals across his last four matches, but the visitors will first need to be much more solid in defense if they are to get a positive result.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- DR Congo have won their first two qualifying matches and lead their closest Group E challengers by three points
- DR Congo have beaten Sierra Leone in their last three meetings, including both matches in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers
- Sierra Leone have lost their last three matches in all competitions and have not won a competitive fixture since October 2025
Hosts have every chance to extend their lead: DR Congo vs Sierra Leone prediction
DR Congo are clear favorites thanks to their stronger squad, successful start to qualifying and home advantage. Desabre's side regularly look to seize the initiative from the opening whistle, as the stats show: the Congolese have scored first in four of their last five matches. Against an inconsistent Sierra Leone defense, that front-foot approach could prove decisive, especially if the hosts take an early chance.
The visitors need to snap their losing streak, but getting a result against the group leaders will be a tough task. Sierra Leone have already shown they struggle to protect a lead and lack reliability in the decisive stages of matches, while DR Congo have enough attacking quality to exploit those weaknesses. Given the gap in class, current form and head-to-head record, a comfortable win to nil for the Congolese looks the most likely outcome.
