Nigeria’s U-23 men’s national team will face the Democratic Republic of Congo in the second round of the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Egypt.

The highly anticipated two-legged tie is scheduled to take place during the FIFA international window from November 9 to 17, 2026.

Nigeria will play the first leg away against DR Congo before returning home for the decisive second leg, with the aggregate winner advancing to the final qualifying round.

The encounter presents another important hurdle for the Nigerian Olympic Eagles as they seek to secure a place at the continental tournament.

The 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations will be staged in Egypt and will serve as the qualifying competition for the men’s football event at the 2028 Olympic Games.

Should Nigeria overcome DR Congo, the Olympic Eagles will face another two-legged battle in the final round scheduled for March 22–30, 2027.

The final-round pathway could produce another West African test, with the winner of the Sierra Leone/Burkina Faso tie set to face Zambia, before the eventual winner meets the victor of the Nigeria–DR Congo second-round contest.

Nigeria will therefore need to navigate two qualifying rounds successfully to reach the U-23 AFCON tournament.

The Olympic Eagles will be hoping to build a strong squad ahead of the November window, with the coaching crew expected to assemble a competitive group capable of negotiating the demanding away-and-home format.

The U-23 AFCON remains particularly significant for Nigeria given its link to Olympic qualification, making the upcoming tie against DR Congo an important early step towards the country’s 2028 Olympic ambitions.