Zimbabwe defeated Sierra Leone 3-2 in their opening Group Stage 1 fixture of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign on 24 September 2026. The visitors took the lead through Sallieu Capay Tarawallie before Marshall Munetsi struck twice in the second half to secure the win. Sierra Leone had started brighter, with Alie Conteh finding the net in the seventh minute.
By then the match had settled into a rhythm that would test both defences. Sierra Leone's early strike gave them confidence, and they enjoyed 37 per cent possession without needing much of it. Zimbabwe controlled the tempo, building up their 63 per cent share through 423 total passes compared to the hosts' 344.
The turning point came when Sierra Leone made two substitutions at the half-hour mark, bringing on Sean Fusire and Alhassan Koroma. Shane Maroodza picked up a yellow card in the 51st minute, and the hosts added Juma Bah and Saidu Fofanah for their side of the break. It was a quiet period until Zimbabwe's pressure began to tell.
Munetsi broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute, and Chirewa doubled the advantage four minutes later. Sierra Leone responded with Tyrese Fornah coming on in the 83rd minute, but the damage was done. Munetsi completed his brace in the 88th minute, and the visitors held on grimly despite a late flurry.
And here's the thing about the numbers — Zimbabwe registered 4 shots on target from 21 attempts, while Sierra Leone managed just 2 from 8. The hosts had 6 offsides to show for their 112 attacks, a sign of hurried runs in behind. Failed passes were nearly even at 60 for Sierra Leone and 59 for Zimbabwe, but the difference came in conversion.
The result puts Zimbabwe ahead in the group standings after their opening match. Sierra Leone, who had lost 3-1 to Liberia in June and beaten them 1-0 in the reverse fixture, now face a tougher path. The goal difference sits at +1 for the visitors after this five-goal encounter.
