U23 AFCON Qualifiers: Nigeria Draw Mauritania, DR Congo Winner

U23 AFCON Qualifiers: Nigeria Draw Mauritania, DR Congo Winner

Sampson Adedeji 

Nigeria’s U23 team will begin their campaign for a place at the 2027 Africa U23 Cup of Nations in the second qualifying round after receiving a bye in the opening round, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The draw has handed Nigeria a tie against the winner of the first-round clash between Mauritania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

The Olympic Games-bound side must overcome that hurdle to progress to the final qualifying round, where they will face the winner between Burkina Faso and the winner of the Sierra Leone versus Zambia tie.

Nigeria will need to prevail over two legs in the final round to secure qualification for the U23 AFCON, which will be hosted by Egypt.

The tournament will also serve as Africa’s qualifying competition for the Olympic Games, with the continent’s leading U23 teams battling for places at the global showpiece.