Freetown, 13th November 2026- Leone Stars head coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa has urged Sierra Leonean fans to keep faith with his young team after a 3-1 defeat to DR Congo in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Thursday.
The Leopards were ruthless at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa, racing to a 3-0 lead before Samuel Bekoe pulled one back late for Sierra Leone. Yoane Wissa opened the scoring after just four minutes, Samuel Moutoussamy doubled the advantage in the 35th minute, and Edo Kayembe made it 3-0 in the 58th minute. Bekoe’s 83rd-minute strike gave Leone Stars something to hold onto, but it was not enough to change the result.
The defeat leaves Sierra Leone bottom of Group E with zero points from three matches, while DR Congo stay perfect at the top with nine points. Speaking at his post-match press conference, Gomes Da Rosa refused to condemn his players. Instead, he described them as a promising side full of young talent, and insisted the future can still be bright.”This is a team in transition,” the Frenchman said. “We have considerable young talent. We must be patient and continue to build.”He pointed to two positives from the night in Kinshasa: the return of Augustus Kargbo and Samuel Bekoe’s impact.
Bekoe, introduced as a fresh face in the squad, marked his moment with a late goal. Gomes Da Rosa said both players will be valuable additions as Sierra Leone prepare for the return fixture. That return match is now do-or-die. Leone Stars face DR Congo again on Tuesday, November 17, in Morocco, in what the coach described as Sierra Leone’s last chance to revive its hopes of qualification.
“We still have a chance,” Gomes Da Rosa said. “Tuesday is our opportunity to respond. We need the fans behind us.”His message to supporters was clear: do not give up on this team. Sierra Leonean football, he said, is going through a period of change. With time, continued support and proper development of the young players in the squad, Leone Stars can become stronger and more competitive.
For now, the pressure is on. Three games, three defeats, and only the return leg in Morocco stands between Sierra Leone and the end of its AFCON 2027 dream. But if Gomes Da Rosa has his way, the story is far from over.
