Nigeria’s U-23 national team, the Olympic Eagles, have arrived in Lubumbashi, where they will take on the Democratic Republic of Congo in the first leg of their 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifying tie.
The Nigerian contingent has been boosted by the arrival of all 23 players called up for the encounter, with preparations now underway ahead of Friday’s showdown.
The squad features seven players from the Nigerian domestic league alongside 16 professionals plying their trade abroad.
In the absence of head coach, Éric Chelle, who is currently occupied with the senior national team, assistant coach Deniran Ortega will oversee the Olympic Eagles’ preparations and lead the side in both matches.
The opening encounter will be staged at the TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi, while the return leg is scheduled to take place at the Remo Stars Sports Complex in Ikenne next Tuesday.
A place in the final qualifying round awaits the aggregate winners, who will face either Sierra Leone or Burkina Faso in March 2027 as the race for a spot at the U-23 AFCON continues.
2027 U-23 AFCONQ: Olympic Eagles settle in Lubumbashi ahead of DR Congo showdown