Nigeria's U-23 Eagles set to face DR Congo in November 2026 AFCON qualifier

DR Congo booked their second-round 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria by eliminating Mauritania 2-1 on aggregate. After suffering a 1-0 defeat in Nouakchott in the first leg, Guy Bukasa's side rallied to win 2-0 at home, with Mabete and Candidat Mapendo scoring the goals.

This sets up a high-stakes tie for Nigeria's U-23 Eagles, who now face a DR Congo side that just won two consecutive matches. The first leg will be played at TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi, DRC on Monday, November 9, 2026, with Nigeria hosting the reverse fixture on Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at a venue yet to be named by the NFF.

For Nigerian football fans, these dates offer clear markers to follow the team's continental qualification journey. The Lubumbashi match requires awareness of travel considerations for diaspora supporters, while the home leg (once venue is announced) will provide a local opportunity to backing the young Eagles. With DR Congo showing strong recent form, Nigeria's preparation and squad selection will be critical.

As the U-23 Eagles prepare to face DR Congo in back-to-back November matches, how will you engage with this qualifier—through local viewing parties, social media analysis, or planning to attend the home leg once venue details are released?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/10/08/u-23-afconq-dr-congo-to-face-nigeria-after-eliminating-mauritania/