U-23 Eagles to Face Mauritania or DR Congo in AFCONQ

Nigeria's U-23 Eagles are set to compete against either Mauritania or the Democratic Republic of Congo in the second round of the qualifiers for the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The draws, confirmed on August 25, took place in Cairo, Egypt.

The U-23 Eagles received a bye into this round alongside 13 other teams due to Nigeria's performances in the last three editions of the competition. The qualifying series will commence in September, with first-round matches scheduled for September 28 and October 6, 2026.

Nigeria will enter the qualifiers in November, with the first leg against either Mauritania or DR Congo on November 9 and the return match on November 17. A victory would advance the U-23 Eagles to the third and final qualifying round, where they could face the winners of the Burkina Faso versus Sierra Leone or Zambia tie.

Seven teams will qualify for the 2027 finals, joining hosts Egypt in the eight-team tournament, which will also serve as Africa's qualifying tournament for the men's football event at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.