Nigeria's U23 Team to Face DR Congo in Qualifiers
Nigeria's U23 side, known as the Olympic Eagles, will compete against DR Congo's U23 team in the second round of the 2027 U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. This matchup follows FIFA's dismissal of Nigeria's eligibility case concerning DR Congo's goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, which was rejected on technicalities despite Nigeria having a legitimate claim.
DR Congo advanced to this round after overcoming a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Mauritius U23, winning the second leg 2-1. The two-legged tie will determine which team qualifies for the tournament in Egypt, with the first leg set to take place in DR Congo and the return leg in Nigeria between November 9 and 17.
The outcome is particularly significant as it also serves as a pathway to the 2028 Olympics. The Nigeria Football Federation expressed frustration over FIFA's ruling, which allowed Mpasi to participate at the World Cup level despite being deemed ineligible.
Plus234Feed summary based on reporting from Legit.ng. Read the original report below.
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