Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles have commenced preparations for their 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifying encounter against the Democratic Republic of Congo as the team steps up its efforts to secure a place in the continental tournament.

The Nigerian side held its first training session on Tuesday at the Remo Stars Sports Complex in Ikenne, Ogun State, under the supervision of head coach Éric Chelle. The opening session marked the beginning of the team’s preparations for the crucial second round qualifying tie, with the coaching crew expected to use the coming days to assess the players and build the team’s readiness for the two legged encounter.

According to reports, 28 players participated in the initial training session as the Olympic Eagles began work ahead of their trip to DR Congo. The session provided an opportunity for the technical crew to start implementing its plans for the tie while assessing the condition and readiness of the players invited to camp.

Three players from Rangers International of Enugu, namely Chimobi Igwilo, Kenneth Igboke and Chibueze Oputa, joined the squad later after completing their involvement in the club’s CAF Champions League second preliminary round second leg fixture against MC Alger of Algeria.

The trio are expected to take part in the team’s training session on Wednesday, further strengthening the squad as preparations gather momentum. Their arrival followed their commitments with Rangers in continental competition, and their inclusion will give the coaching staff additional options ahead of the important qualifying matches.

With the Rangers players expected to join the rest of the squad on the training ground, the Olympic Eagles are set to intensify their preparations for the encounter against the Congolese side. The team is scheduled to train twice on Wednesday, with sessions planned for both the morning and evening as the coaching crew seeks to maximise the available preparation time.

The technical team will be looking to improve the players’ fitness, tactical understanding and coordination before the first leg. With the tie expected to be closely contested, Nigeria will need to approach both matches with discipline and concentration to secure the result required to advance to the next qualifying round.

The Olympic Eagles will travel to Lubumbashi for the first leg against DR Congo, which is scheduled to take place at the TP Mazembe Stadium on Friday, November 13, 2026. Playing away from home presents a significant challenge for the Nigerian team, which will be aiming to produce a strong performance and put itself in a favourable position before the return fixture.

An encouraging result in Lubumbashi could prove important in determining the direction of the tie. Nigeria will be hoping to avoid a difficult deficit ahead of the second leg and give itself a realistic opportunity to complete the job on home soil.

The return fixture is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at the Remo Stars Sports Complex in Ikenne. The venue will provide the Olympic Eagles with an opportunity to use home advantage as they attempt to secure qualification for the next stage of the competition.

The two matches will be crucial to Nigeria’s ambitions of progressing through the qualifying series and moving closer to a place at the 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations. The players and coaching staff will therefore be aware of the importance of preparation, especially with limited time available between the two fixtures.

The qualifying campaign also represents an opportunity for the invited players to demonstrate their quality and strengthen their positions within the national team setup. Strong individual performances, combined with effective teamwork, could prove decisive as Nigeria faces a DR Congo side determined to advance in the competition.

The winner of the tie will progress to the final qualifying round, where they will face either Sierra Leone or Burkina Faso. That possibility adds further importance to the upcoming matches, as both Nigeria and DR Congo will be seeking to keep their qualification hopes alive.

For the Olympic Eagles, the immediate priority remains the first leg in Lubumbashi. The coaching crew will need to ensure that the squad is physically prepared, tactically organised and mentally focused before travelling to DR Congo.

With 28 players already involved in the opening training session and the Rangers trio expected to join the group, Nigeria’s preparations are now underway. The team will continue working in Ikenne as it builds towards the November fixtures, hoping to deliver the performances needed to overcome DR Congo and take another step towards the 2027 U-23 AFCON.

Galaxy Sports Production