Nigeria’s U-23 Eagles must overturn a two-goal deficit after losing 2-0 to DR Congo in the first leg of their second-round 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying tie in Lubumbashi on Friday.
The hosts went ahead in the 15th minute when Nigeria goalkeeper and captain Samuel James turned a cross into his own goal after failing to gather it cleanly.
DR Congo doubled their advantage 20 minutes later. Filozofe Mabete reacted quickest in the 35th minute, bundling the ball into the net after Nigeria failed to clear their lines.
The result leaves Nigeria needing a significantly improved performance in the return fixture, which will be played on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.
The winner of the two-legged tie will progress to the final qualifying round in March 2027, where they will face either Sierra Leone or Burkina Faso.
Nigeria had received a bye through the first round, making Friday’s match their first competitive fixture of the campaign. DR Congo, meanwhile, secured their place in the second round by recovering from a 1-0 first-leg defeat by Mauritania to win the return match 2-0 at home.
The 2027 U-23 AFCON will be hosted by Egypt and will also determine qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Nigeria missed the 2024 Paris Olympics after failing to qualify for the U-23 AFCON in Morocco. Their most recent appearance at the continental tournament came in 2019, when they were eliminated in the group stage.
The U-23 Eagles won their only U-23 AFCON title in 2015, when the competition was held in Senegal. The team was coached by former Nigeria international Samson at that tournament.
The side’s defeat in Lubumbashi means they must now score at least twice in Ikenne without conceding if they are to take the tie into a decisive situation. A three-goal victory would send Nigeria through to the final qualifying round, while any aggregate draw would be decided according to the competition’s qualifying rules.
DR Congo, having scored twice at home, will take a commanding advantage into the second leg as they seek to complete their progress towards the 2027 tournament and the Olympic qualification pathway.