Sierra Leone suffered its third defeat, a 2-0 loss to Zambia in the last match of the 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.During the campaign, Sierra Leone conceded ten goals and scored five in their six qualifying matches.
With goals from Kennedy Musonda and Emmanuel Banda at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia, the visitors enjoyed a resounding victory.
The victory means, Zambia topped Group G with 13 points, finishing one point ahead of the African champions, Côte d’Ivoire.
The Leone Stars have once again failed to secure a place in the continent’s most prestigious football tournament, missing the opportunity since their appearance in the 2021 finals in Cameroon.
This outcome has left many soccer enthusiasts disheartened, as they feel that the financial support provided by the government should have empowered Sierra Leone to compete against the top teams across Africa.
Fans had hoped to see their national team rise to the challenge and make a mark on the international stage, but the disappointment lingers as they reflect on what could have been.
Meanwhile, several nations qualified with good performances. Nigeria, Tunisia, and South Africa also secured their places, bringing in some of Africa’s most famous teams.
Some nations made a comeback, including DR Congo, Angola, and Gabon. Botswana returns to the tournament after many years, showing the growing competitiveness of African football. Sudan and Benin qualified on the last day of matches.
Last week, Zambia, Mali, Zimbabwe, and Comoros secured their spots, creating a balanced mix of established and new teams.
Equatorial Guinea and Uganda, known for their strong past performances, will join the tournament in Morocco.
This will be Botswana’s first appearance in 12 years, while Tanzania and Mozambique have fought hard to qualify.
The qualification rounds show that the level of football in Africa is rising. Now that all 24 slots are filled, excitement is growing for what will be a memorable tournament.
Group G Match Day Six Results
Ivory Coast 4-0 Chad
Sierra Leone 0-2 Zambia
