Didier Gomes Da Rosa has named a 25-man Sierra Leone squad for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 qualifying double-header against DR Congo, with the first match set for 12 November in Kinshasa. The coach has turned to a group built for urgency, because Sierra Leone go into the two games bottom of Group E without a point.
The search around Dr Congo Vs Sierra Leone is being driven by the timing as much as the fixture itself. Sierra Leone travel first to the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa, then meet DR Congo again five days later in Morocco, where their home leg has to be played because their national stadium remains unavailable for approved international matches. That makes the return game a home fixture in name only, and it leaves Gomes Da Rosa trying to squeeze points from a pair of matches against the team that has made the strongest start in the group.
DR Congo lead Group E with six points, while Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea are level on three. Sierra Leone, by contrast, have none after defeats in their opening two matches, which means the margin for error has already gone. Gomes Da Rosa has leaned on experience and pace in his call-up, selecting three goalkeepers in Mamadou Jalloh, Francis Koroma and Ibrahim Sesay, while Augustus Kargbo, Sullay Kaikai, Abdulai Juma Bah, Tyrese Fornah and Alhassan Koroma are among the more familiar names in the squad.
The squad also includes Abdelai Juma Bah, Emmanuel Samadia, Alpha Turay, Sallieu Tarawallie, MJ Kamson-Kamara, Osman Kakay and Mohamed Fofanah in defence, with Saidu Bah Kamara, Tyrese Fornah, Samuel Bekoe, Ibrahim Turay, Saidu Fofanah, Momoh I. Kamara and Ra’ees Bangura Williams in midfield. In attack, Sierra Leone have eight options, including Santigie Yusuf Sesay, Alhassan Koroma, Daniel Kanu, Malachi Jones, Sullay Kaikai, Augustus Kargbo, Idris Kanu and Alie Conteh.
That depth may matter less than the setting. A trip to Kinshasa on 12 November is already a hard ask, and the Morocco leg removes the usual edge of a true home match. Sierra Leone need points quickly, but the schedule gives them two games against the group leaders and no real breathing space between them. For Gomes Da Rosa, the squad announcement is only the start of a test that could define the rest of Sierra Leone’s qualifying campaign.
