Nigeria's Olympic Eagles to Face U-23 AFCON Qualifiers Foes

Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles are set to compete against either Mauritania or the Democratic Republic of Congo in the second round of the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, having received a bye into this stage. The draw took place in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday, with Nigeria being one of 14 nations granted a bye based on their performances in the last three editions of the competition.

Mauritania and the Democratic Republic of Congo will face off in the first round, with the winner advancing to meet Nigeria. The first-round matches are scheduled for September 28 and October 6, while Nigeria's second-round fixtures will occur on November 9 and 17, with the Olympic Eagles playing the first leg away from home.

Should Nigeria progress, they will face the winner of the tie between Burkina Faso and either Sierra Leone or Zambia in the third round, set for March 22-30, 2027. Seven teams will qualify for the finals alongside hosts Egypt, with the tournament also serving as Africa’s qualifying competition for the men’s football event at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Eric Chelle, the Super Eagles head coach, will oversee the Olympic Eagles during this qualifying campaign.