By Tapiwa Chawagarira
HARARE — Zimbabwe begin their campaign for a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations when the Warriors face Sierra Leone in a potentially intriguing Group E encounter in Morocco this evening.
The match at Stade Ben M’Hamed El Abdi in El Jadida marks a new beginning for both nations, with Zimbabwe’s Spanish coach Ramon Catalá and Sierra Leone’s French coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa taking charge of their respective sides in a competitive fixture for the first time.
The Group E encounter, which kicks off at 19:00 GMT (9pm Zimbabwe time), is being played on neutral Moroccan soil, despite Sierra Leone being listed as the home team.
The two sides are joined in the group by the Democratic Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea, with the top two teams advancing to the finals in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
For Catalá, the fixture represents the beginning of his competitive tenure with the Warriors after ZIFA appointed the Spanish UEFA Pro Licence holder as part of a new national team technical structure.
Catalá brings extensive coaching experience from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, with previous associations including Celta Vigo, Osasuna, Espanyol, Real Zaragoza and Dynamo Kyiv. He has also worked at international level with Nicaragua and Libya.
His first Warriors squad combines established internationals such as Marshall Munetsi, Marvelous Nakamba and Andy Rinomhota with several younger players looking to establish themselves at senior level.
However, Zimbabwe will not have a completely settled squad, with Isaac Mabaya, Prince Dube and Tinotenda Kadewere ruled out through injury, according to ZIFA.
Divine Lunga and Tawanda Maswanhise were expected to join the camp later, while Washington Navaya and Leeroy Mavunga are scheduled to link up with the team in Harare ahead of Monday’s home qualifier against DR Congo.
Rinomhota’s return is another boost for the Warriors, with the midfielder expected to provide experience to a squad containing a number of relatively young players.
Sierra Leone, meanwhile, are also entering a new era under Da Rosa, who was appointed Leone Stars head coach in June. The experienced French coach has worked with clubs and national teams across Africa and Asia.
Da Rosa has named a 25-man squad for the opening qualifiers, featuring players such as Abdulai Juma Bah, Osman Kakay, Tyrese Fornah and Sullay Kaikai.
On paper, the Leone Stars enter the contest higher in the FIFA rankings. The latest official FIFA rankings available before the October update place Sierra Leone 122nd and Zimbabwe 130th in the world.
Zimbabwe, however, have greater AFCON experience. The Warriors have appeared at the continental finals six times, compared with Sierra Leone’s three appearances.
Sierra Leone’s most recent AFCON appearance came at the 2021 tournament in Cameroon, while Zimbabwe featured at the 2025 finals in Morocco.
The recent form of the two teams also provides an interesting backdrop. Zimbabwe have won three of their last five matches, while Sierra Leone have recorded two victories in their last five outings.
There is also little historical baggage between the two countries. Today’s fixture is their first meeting in senior men’s international football, according to ZBC, meaning neither side can draw on previous head-to-head encounters.
The Warriors have already established their base in Morocco, training at Raja Casablanca before travelling to El Jadida for the match.
With limited preparation time, Catalá’s immediate challenge has been to bring together players arriving from different clubs and implement his tactical ideas quickly.
Zimbabwe will be looking to avoid giving Sierra Leone an early advantage in what could develop into a closely contested group.
After today’s encounter, the Warriors return home to face DR Congo at the National Sports Stadium on Monday, September 28, giving Catalá an opportunity to introduce his team to the home supporters.
For both Catalá and Da Rosa, therefore, the El Jadida encounter represents more than just the opening fixture of a six-match qualifying campaign. It is the first competitive examination of their respective projects — and an opportunity for either the Warriors or Leone Stars to make an early statement in Group E.
