The race for top spot in Group G of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers goes down to the wire as Zambia take on Sierra Leone at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex on Tuesday.
While Amidu Karim's men are out of contention for qualification, the Chipolopolo head into the group finale seeking to secure maximum points and clinch a first-placed finish.
Match preview
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Sierra Leone's dreams of securing a place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations came to an end last Wednesday when they were held to a somewhat disappointing 1-1 draw by Chad at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpe Olympic Stadium.
Abu Dumbuya gave the visitors a dream start to the contest as he opened the scoring in the 29th minute but Chad hit back five minutes later when Mahamat Thiam converted from the spot to restore parity.
Before that, Sierra Leone stumbled into the campaign, claiming just one point from their opening three matches before picking up an impressive 1-0 victory over Ivory Coast on October 15 through Amadou Bakayoko.
Having missed out in 2023, Karim's side are now set to sit out a second conservative AFCON as they occupy third in the Group G standings, four points adrift of second-placed Ivory Coast heading into Tuesday's group finale.
Zambia, on the other hand, picked up three huge points in their push to finish as group winners as they beat Ivory Coast 1-0 when the two nations squared off in a top-of-the-table clash on Friday.
In a cagey affair at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Young African Sports Club forward Kennedy Musonda came up clutch for the hosts as he netted the only goal of the game just before half time to hand Ivory Coast a second consecutive defeat.
Since kicking off their qualifying campaign with a 2-0 loss against Ivory Coast in September's opener, Zambia have won three of their subsequent four matches — scoring five goals and keeping three clean sheets — with a goalless draw versus Chad on October 11 being the exception.
This impressive run of results has seen Avram Grant's men book their ticket to Morocco next year as they lead the way at the top of the Group G standings with 10 points from five matches, one point above Ivory Coast.
Zambia now go up against an opposing side who have failed to win any of the previous three encounters between the two nations, losing twice and claiming one draw, and will fancy themselves to extend this impressive run and seal top spot in the group.
Team News
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Dumbuya was forced off injured midway through the second half against Chad last time out and the 25-year-old midfielder is a doubt for Tuesday's group finale.
Should he fail to shake off the injury, Alusine Pagal Koroma, who made his debut in June 2021, should come into the fold, teaming with Salford City's Tyrese Fornah at the centre of the park.
Off the back of an impressive victory over Ivory Coast at the weekend, we expect Grant to name his strongest XI on Tuesday as Zambia head into Tuesday looking to clinch top spot in Group F.
Kabaso Chongo, Gift Prosper Mphande and Obino Chisala teaming should team up at the defensive end of the pitch while we expect Kelvin Kapumbu, Emmanuel Banda, Obino Chisala and Hapoel Be'er Sheva's Kings Kangwa to retain their places in midfield.
With his winner against Ivory Coast, Mosunda has now been involved in four of the Chipolopolo's five goals in the qualifiers and the Young Africans Sports Club striker should lead the attack once again.
Sierra Leone possible starting lineup:
F Koroma; Samadiya, Caulker, Abdul, Jalloh; P Koroma, Fornah; Kargbo, Kamara, Bundu; Bakayoko
Zambia possible starting lineup:
Chongo, Mphande, Chisala; Kapumbu, Banda, Chisala, Kangwa; Sabobo, Kampamba, Mosunda
We say: Sierra Leone 1-2 Zambia
With their fate already sealed, Tuesday's game is a dead rubber for Sierra Leone, while Zambia will be aiming to beat Ivory Coast to first place in the table. The Chipolopolo boast a significantly superior squad on paper and we fancy them to close out the qualifying campaign on a high.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
