from MARCUS MUSHONGA in Harare, Zimbabwe
HARARE, (CAJ News) – THE road to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) returns across the continent this week, with Matchday Two of the qualifiers producing a series of important encounters between 28 September and 1 October, before the remaining second-round fixtures continue into 6 October.
The tournament itself will be staged in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July 2027.
For Zimbabwe, however, Monday’s meeting with Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is the headline encounter.
The Warriors host the Leopards at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, with kick-off scheduled for 16:00 GMT (18:00 CAT).
The 60,000-capacity stadium provides Zimbabwe with home advantage in a Group E contest between two sides that both opened their campaigns with victories.
Zimbabwe arrive with considerable momentum after producing one of the opening round’s most dramatic comebacks.
They recovered from 2-0 down against Sierra Leone to win 3-2, with Marshall Munetsi scoring twice and Tawanda Chirewa completing the turnaround.
Munetsi’s experience and goalscoring ability will again be central, while Chirewa’s creativity could prove important against a physically strong Congolese defence.
The Warriors also possess experienced midfielders Marvelous Nakamba and Andy Rinomhota, while Tawanda Maswanhise and Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya offer attacking options.
Their challenge will be maintaining the intensity that transformed their match against Sierra Leone without leaving spaces for DR Congo’s dangerous forwards.
The Leopards also made a winning start, defeating Equatorial Guinea 2-0 in Kinshasa.
Captain Chancel Mbemba opened the scoring before Yoane Wissa added the second.
Both remain obvious threats, with Wissa bringing pace and finishing and Mbemba providing leadership and aerial strength.
DR Congo’s squad also includes Premier League experience through Aaron Wan-Bissaka, alongside Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku and Edo Kayembe.
Their defensive organisation and ability to transition quickly could test Zimbabwe’s back line.
Across Africa on Monday, Equatorial Guinea face Sierra Leone, while Central African Republic meet Burkina Faso and Botswana host Tunisia.
Tuesday brings another packed programme: Lesotho face Morocco, Burundi play Algeria, Mozambique meet Sudan, South Sudan host Egypt, Ethiopia face Senegal, Ghana play The Gambia, Somalia meet Côte d’Ivoire, Comoros face Namibia, Congo tackle Cameroon, Uganda play Libya, Zambia face Togo, Cabo Verde meet Rwanda, and Liberia host Mali.
The second round concludes within the requested week with Eritrea hosting South Africa on 30 September and Guinea facing Kenya on 1 October.
For Zimbabwe, though, the immediate assignment is unmistakable: another victory in Harare would strengthen their position in a Group E containing four ambitious sides, with the top two ultimately qualifying for the 2027 finals.
– CAJ News