This Group A fixture is a critical penultimate match in the CAF 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification tournament. While Egypt has secured the top spot, this game is a direct battle for the highly contested second position, which offers a path to the World Cup via the best runner-up playoffs.
Match Details
Competition: 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification – CAF, Group A
Fixture: Sierra Leone (Leone Stars) vs Burkina Faso (Les Étalons)
Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Kick-off: 16:00 GMT+0 (Local time in Liberia)
Venue: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, Paynesville, Liberia (Neutral venue for Sierra Leone)
Group A Standings (Heading into Matchday 9)
Position | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Egypt | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 2 | +14 | 20 | Qualified |
2 | Burkina Faso | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 7 | +12 | 15 | Fighting for 2nd place |
3 | Sierra Leone | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 12 | Fighting for 2nd place |
4 | Guinea-Bissau | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 10 | Still in contention for 2nd |
5 | Ethiopia | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 6 | Eliminated |
6 | Djibouti | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 28 | -24 | 1 | Eliminated |
Burkina Faso holds a three-point lead over Sierra Leone. A victory for Sierra Leone would move them level on points, making goal difference the deciding factor for second place.
Team Form and Motivation
Sierra Leone (Leone Stars)
Sierra Leone has shown impressive form in the later stages of the campaign, particularly at their 'home' ground in Liberia. They have a perfect home record (3 wins in 3 matches) during this qualification cycle, scoring crucial victories against Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, and Ethiopia.
Recent Qualification Form (Last 5): W - D - L - W - D (2W, 2D, 1L)
Key Challenge: They must win this match to keep the race for second place alive. Their goal difference (+2) is significantly worse than Burkina Faso's (+12), meaning a simple victory is necessary but likely insufficient to surpass them unless they manage a large margin of victory.
Burkina Faso (Les Étalons)
Burkina Faso has been strong offensively, boasting 19 goals—the highest in the group. They currently hold the crucial second spot and know a draw or a win will almost guarantee they hold onto it, thanks to their superior goal difference.
Recent Qualification Form (Last 5): D - W - L - W - D (2W, 2D, 1L)
Key Strength: Their powerful attacking unit, evidenced by high-scoring away victories (e.g., 6-0 vs. Djibouti). They also recently managed a respectable 0-0 draw against group leaders Egypt. Their motivation is high to secure second place and maintain their standing as one of the best runners-up across all groups.
Head-to-Head (H2H) Record
The most recent meeting between these sides was the reverse fixture in June 2024, which ended in a highly competitive draw:
Reverse Fixture (June 2024): Burkina Faso 2-2 Sierra Leone
This draw demonstrates that Sierra Leone has the capability to compete fiercely with the higher-ranked Stallions.
Match Outlook
This is essentially a knockout fixture for the Leone Stars. They will be compelled to push forward, trying to breach a solid Burkina Faso defense.
Burkina Faso, requiring just a point to all but secure second place due to their vast goal difference advantage, might adopt a more cautious approach, looking to absorb pressure and hit Sierra Leone on the counter-attack, utilizing their strong attacking presence.
Prediction: Given Sierra Leone's perfect "home" record and Burkina Faso's need for only a draw, this game is expected to be cagey but highly tactical. A share of the points remains a strong possibility, but Burkina Faso's firepower gives them the edge.
Predicted Result: Sierra Leone 1-1 Burkina Faso
