This match is crucial for both teams as they seek their first win in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Sierra Leone, currently in third place with one point, is aiming for revenge against Zambia, who are languishing at the bottom of the table.

Zambia began their AFCON qualification campaign with a tough away fixture against Ivory Coast on September 6, 2024, where they were defeated 2-0 by the African champions. This result extended their dismal run to six consecutive losses, with only one win from their last 12 matches, a 1-0 victory over Malawi in March. Additionally, Chipolopolo struggled to score in the recent COSAFA Cup and were eliminated in the group stage of the 2023 AFCON earlier this year.