DR Congo 2-0 Nigeria is the scoreline that has left the Olympic Eagles’ road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics hanging by a thread, after Bright Ozebagbe’s side were beaten in the first leg of their U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Lubumbashi on Friday afternoon.
Nigeria went into the game full of confidence. Only a day earlier, the players had promised to beat DR Congo home and away, with Brighton youngster Zadok Yohanna leading the vow. Instead, the Olympic Eagles return home needing a minor miracle at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne on Tuesday.
An own goal from captain and goalkeeper Samuel James and a strike from Filozofe Mabete did the damage, both before half-time, and Nigeria never found a way back despite improving after the restart.
DR Congo 2-0 Nigeria: How the hosts punished Nigeria’s early misses
Nigeria made the brighter start at the TP Mazembe Stadium and missed two early chances inside the opening nine minutes, Footy Naija reported. The wastefulness proved costly.
DR Congo punished the misses midway through the first half when James inadvertently turned the ball into his own net. ScoreNigeria noted the opener was controversial, with the referee overlooking an infringement on the goalkeeper in the build-up.
Things got worse for Nigeria on the half-hour mark when Yohanna, one of the brightest names in the 23-man squad, was forced off injured. Ten minutes later, DR Congo doubled their lead: Nigeria failed to clear a free-kick and Mabete pounced on the loose ball to fire past James from close range.
It was a familiar name doing the damage. Mabete had also scored when DR Congo overturned a first-leg deficit to beat Mauritania 2-1 on aggregate in the previous round, and he again showed the composure Nigeria lacked in front of goal.
Zadok injury adds to Nigeria’s worries
Nigeria improved after the restart and pushed forward in search of a goal that would reduce the deficit, but the Congolese goalkeeper stood firm and the visitors could not find a way through.
The defeat is a bitter blow for a team playing its first competitive match of the campaign, having received a bye in the first qualifying round. DR Congo, by contrast, arrived in Lubumbashi battle-hardened from their two-legged tie against Mauritania, and it showed in the way they managed the game after going ahead.
Yohanna’s injury will also worry Ozebagbe. The Brighton youngster was one of the players the coach was counting on for the return leg, and his fitness will now be assessed before Tuesday.
What Nigeria need in Ikenne on Tuesday
The maths is simple but unforgiving. Nigeria must win the return leg at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne on Tuesday, 17 November, by at least two goals to bring the aggregate score level. A win by three or more goals would send them through outright.
Anything less, and the Olympic dream is over before it has properly begun. The winners of this tie advance to the final qualifying round in March 2027, against either Burkina Faso or Sierra Leone, with the 2027 U23 AFCON finals in Egypt doubling as Africa’s route to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where only the two finalists earn places.
Nigeria’s men have not played Olympic football since Rio 2016, where the Dream Team won bronze. Friday’s defeat in Lubumbashi means that long wait could stretch even further unless Tuesday brings a famous turnaround in Ikenne.
For more on tonight’s action, Nigeria’s senior side face Tanzania in Uyo tonight in their AFCON 2027 qualifier — and you can check today’s predictions for the latest tips.
Featured image: SportsBuddy graphic design. Sources: Footy Naija, ScoreNigeria.
