DR Congo make a perfect start in AFCON 2027 qualifying

Two games, two wins, six points. DR Congo could hardly have asked for a better start to qualifying for AFCON 2027, which will be held in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania next June.

The Leopards beat Equatorial Guinea 2-0 in their opener and followed it with a 2-1 win over Zimbabwe, CAF’s roundup of 2 October showed. That leaves them three points clear at the top of Group E.

The chasing pack

Zimbabwe arrived for the Congo game full of confidence after coming from two goals down to beat Sierra Leone 3-2. They could not repeat the trick. Equatorial Guinea bounced back from their opening defeat by edging Sierra Leone 1-0, so they and Zimbabwe both sit on three points.

Sierra Leone are still waiting for their first point.

Next up

DR Congo host Sierra Leone in November, while Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe meet in a game that could decide who keeps pace with the leaders. Qualifying runs over six matchdays in 12 groups of four, played home and away, for a 24-team finals from 19 June to 17 July 2027.

A third of the way in, Congo are in control. They will want to keep it that way.

Related reporting: Co-hosts Uganda top their qualifying group after beating Libya.