Nigeria’s U-23 national team, the Olympic Eagles, have intensified preparations for their 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifying campaign after holding their first training session in Lubumbashi ahead of Friday’s encounter against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The players took part in their first training session on Wednesday afternoon following the team’s arrival in the Congolese city.

Players and officials of the Nigerian delegation had arrived in Lubumbashi, the venue for the first-leg fixture, with the technical crew immediately shifting attention to preparations for the crucial encounter.

The Wednesday session provided an opportunity for the coaching crew to begin fine-tuning the team’s preparations, while the players worked on their fitness, coordination and tactical understanding ahead of the meeting with their hosts.

The Olympic Eagles will be looking to secure a positive result away from home to strengthen their chances of progressing in the qualifying campaign.

The encounter against DR Congo represents an important step in Nigeria’s quest to return to the continental U-23 championship and keep alive their hopes of competing at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The Nigerian side are expected to continue their preparations in Lubumbashi before Friday’s showdown, where they will aim to make a strong impression against their Congolese counterparts.