Nigeria must overturn a two-goal deficit in Ikenne on Tuesday, and Zadok Yohanna is reportedly heading back to England with an injury.
DR Congo took a two-goal lead into the return leg after beating the Olympic Eagles 2-0 in the first leg of their second-round 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Lubumbashi on Friday. Nigeria now have to overturn that deficit at home.
Nigeria started better. Victor Samuel had an early chance but missed a one-on-one with the Congolese goalkeeper, and the hosts gradually took control from there.
The first goal was credited as an own goal by Nigeria goalkeeper Samuel James. Punch reports that James held the ball for more than eight seconds, which led to a corner, and that he was pushed and lost the ball before it crossed the line. Vanguard and Legit.ng, however, report that James appeared to have been fouled, with Vanguard saying he was going for an aerial ball, and that the referee allowed the goal to stand.
Filozofe Mabete doubled the lead in the 35th minute. Premium Times describes it as a well-taken free-kick, while Punch describes a scramble at the back post after Nigeria failed to clear a free-kick.
Brighton winger Zadok Yohanna was forced off with an injury around the 30th minute. Legit.ng, which describes him as a 20-year-old making his first start for the Under-23 side, reports that he missed the squad's Saturday recovery session in Addis Ababa and, according to reports from NaijaNow, is expected to fly back to England for a medical assessment, which would end his involvement with the Olympic Eagles. The same report says he had missed Brighton's last nine Premier League matches before joining the squad. His missed matches had raised questions about whether he was ready to start in Lubumbashi.
For the first leg, the team was coached by Bright Osehai Ozebagbe of Ikorodu City, with former Nigeria U-20 assistant coach Deniran Ortega, because Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle was busy with the senior side's preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania, Vanguard reports.
Punch reports that Nigeria's strongest effort after the break was a forceful set piece that sailed wide. At the other end, substitute Candidat Mapendo wasted an opening that could have added to DR Congo's lead.
Ikenne's Remo Stars Stadium in Ogun State will host the reverse fixture on Tuesday, 17 November. The winner over two legs advances to the final qualifying round in March 2027, where it will face either Sierra Leone or Burkina Faso, Complete Sports reports. The tournament is also Africa's qualification pathway to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Nigeria had a first-round bye, so Friday was their first competitive match of the campaign, Complete Sports reports. Premium Times notes that Nigeria last featured at the Olympics at Rio 2016, and that the Olympic Eagles failed to qualify for Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
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