By Tapiwa Chawagarira
Zimbabwe’s road to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will begin with a demanding away assignment against Sierra Leone before the Warriors return home four days later for what promises to be a highly anticipated clash against Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has now confirmed that Zimbabwe will face Sierra Leone on Thursday, September 24, at 9pm CAT, before welcoming the Leopards to Harare on Monday, September 28, at 6pm CAT.
The fixtures could hardly provide a more intriguing opening to the campaign, with the Warriors beginning a new era under Spanish coach Ramón Catalá, while simultaneously ending a lengthy period of playing their home internationals outside Zimbabwe.
Catalá, appointed last month, inherits a Warriors side with little time to settle before the qualifiers begin. The UEFA Pro Licence holder has more than three decades of experience in football, having worked in Spain, Ukraine, Libya, Qatar, Japan and Nicaragua, although much of his career has been in fitness, technical and assistant-coaching roles.
His immediate challenge will therefore be to translate his philosophy into results.
The Spaniard has already outlined an attacking approach centred on possession and aggressive pressing, saying his team intends to dominate matches with the ball and make Zimbabwe a difficult side to play against.
But the new coach will have little room for experimentation when the Warriors travel to Sierra Leone.
CAF has confirmed the fixture, although the venue for Sierra Leone’s home match remains an issue. The West African nation has faced challenges securing a suitable CAF-approved stadium, raising the possibility of the match being played outside Sierra Leone.
Liberia’s Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville has emerged as a possible venue. The stadium has previously appeared on CAF’s list of approved venues, while a recent report indicated that CAF had approved it for Liberia’s own 2027 AFCON qualifying matches.
Regardless of where the match is eventually staged, Zimbabwe will face a quick turnaround before the visit of DR Congo on September 28.
The second fixture is particularly significant because it will mark the Warriors’ return to the National Sports Stadium for competitive international football following years of exile.
The Harare stadium was granted CAF Category 3 approval last month after rehabilitation work and a technical inspection, clearing the way for Zimbabwe to host AFCON and FIFA World Cup qualifiers again.
Zimbabwe last played an international match at the National Sports Stadium in November 2021, when the Warriors faced Ethiopia in a World Cup qualifier. Since then, the absence of a CAF-approved home venue forced the national team to stage matches away from home, including in neighbouring South Africa.
The return to Harare could therefore provide Catalá’s charges with a much-needed boost, particularly against a DR Congo side that will arrive in Zimbabwe after opening its own campaign against Equatorial Guinea.
The Leopards are scheduled to host Equatorial Guinea on September 24 before travelling to Harare four days later, with the Zimbabwe match set for 6pm CAT at the National Sports Stadium. DR Congo’s football federation has also confirmed Harare as the venue and named Egyptian referee Amin Mohamed Amin Mohamed Omar to take charge of the encounter.
The Warriors are in Group E alongside DR Congo, Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea, with the qualifiers being played on a home-and-away basis. In the groups without a host nation, the top two teams qualify for the finals.
The qualifying race will be spread across three international windows, with the first two matchdays running from September 21 to October 6, followed by matchdays three and four in November and the final two rounds in March 2027.
For Zimbabwe, however, the immediate equation is much simpler: start strongly in Sierra Leone, then make the long-awaited return home count against DR Congo.
The 2027 AFCON finals will be staged in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17, 2027, giving the Warriors a fresh opportunity to return to Africa’s biggest international football stage.
With a new coach, a new technical structure and international football finally returning to the National Sports Stadium, Zimbabwe’s AFCON campaign is shaping up as the first major test of the country’s new football direction.
