Nigeria's U-23 Eagles will square off against the Democratic Republic of Congo in the second round of the 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifiers, after DR Congo eliminated Mauritania 2-0 on aggregate.

DR Congo's path to the second round was not straightforward. Guy Bukasa's side, known as the Leopards, suffered a 1-0 first-leg defeat away in Nouakchott before regrouping to claim a commanding 2-0 win in the home return fixture.

Mabete and Candidat Mapendo were the scorers for DR Congo, securing the Leopards' passage to the next stage of the qualification campaign.

What to expect in the second round

DR Congo will host the first leg against Nigeria at the TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi on Monday, 9 November 2026. The Leopards will travel for the return leg on Tuesday, 17 November 2026, though the Nigerian venue is yet to be confirmed.

The two-legged tie promises to be a compelling contest between two nations with rich football traditions at the youth level. The winner will advance further in the race to qualify for the 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.