RD Congo host Sierra Leone in the third round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa on Thursday, with the hosts aiming to extend their perfect start and deepen their opponents’ problems.

Sebastien Desabre’s side won their opening two Group E matches in September, beating Equatorial Guinea 2-0 before overcoming Zimbabwe 2-1. Those results have given the Leopards a three-point lead at the top of the section, while their status as the highest-ranked nation in the group makes them clear favourites.

The campaign follows an honourable World Cup run, which ended with a last-16 defeat by England, and RD Congo are now pursuing a fourth successive appearance at a major tournament.

Their momentum was checked in October, however, when they faced Uganda in two friendlies in Johannesburg. RD Congo lost the first match 2-0 before drawing the second 1-1 three days later.

They have won each of their last three meetings with Sierra Leone, including both matches in the 2015 qualifying campaign. A victory on Thursday would give RD Congo three consecutive competitive wins for the first time since December and provide a psychological advantage before the teams meet again in El Jadida next Tuesday.

Sierra Leone arrive in Kinshasa at the bottom of Group E and still looking for their first point. Didier Gomes Da Rosa, appointed in June, has lost both of his matches in charge. In his first game, the Leone Stars surrendered a two-goal lead before losing 3-2 to Zimbabwe.

That result was Sierra Leone’s third successive defeat. They are attempting to avoid four consecutive losses in all competitions for the first time since June 2015, a run which included a 3-1 defeat by RD Congo.

Sierra Leone have not reached the Africa Cup of Nations finals since 2021, while their last competitive victory came against Djibouti in October 2025. Their form in AFCON qualifying is defeat, defeat; across all competitions it is win, defeat, win, defeat, defeat, defeat.

RD Congo’s corresponding records are two wins in qualifying and, in all competitions, win, defeat, win, win, defeat, draw.

Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau remains unavailable with an Achilles tendon injury, so Matthieu Epolo is expected to retain his place. Aston Villa right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka is also injured, leaving Gedeon Kalulu likely to continue on the right. Captain Chancel Mbemba is approaching his 120th international appearance and remains the country’s record cap-holder.

Malachi Jones has been called up by Sierra Leone despite scoring once in 27 appearances this season and could make his international debut. Sallieu Tarawallie, 31, is the visitors’ main threat after contributing directly to three goals in his last four matches for the national team.

The prediction is for a controlled 2-0 RD Congo victory. The listed odds are 1.30 for a home win, 1.35 for both teams not to score and 4.60 for the exact score of 2-0.