Ozebagbe backs Olympic Eagles to deliver in DR Congo qualifier

Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles are ready for the challenge of facing Democratic Republic of Congo in the first leg of their 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifying tie, head coach Bright Ozebagbe says.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference in Lubumbashi, Ozebagbe said his team’s quality would be judged by their display on the pitch rather than by the location of the match.

The coach dismissed the importance of home advantage in deciding the outcome, insisting that what happens during the game will ultimately determine which side gains the upper hand.

He also stressed that the Olympic Eagles must perform consistently across both legs of the tie. Maintaining a high standard in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, he said, would be crucial to securing progression to the next round.

Asked for his view of the Congolese U-23 side, Ozebagbe said his preparations had centred primarily on ensuring that his own players were ready for the encounter.

Rather than concentrating excessively on the opposition, the Nigeria coach has focused on preparing his squad to deliver the performance required in the opening match.

DR Congo coach targets first-leg advantage

DR Congo U-23 head coach Guy Bukasa, meanwhile, is aiming for a convincing home victory to give his side an advantage before the return fixture in Nigeria.

Bukasa believes his players can overcome the Olympic Eagles and has drawn confidence from their recovery against Mauritania in the previous qualifying round.

DR Congo lost the first leg of that tie 1-0 away from home, but responded with a 2-0 victory in the return match to secure their place in the second round.

The coach acknowledges that Nigeria will provide a strong test, but hopes the combination of home advantage and support from the Lubumbashi crowd can help his team claim a positive result.

A strong performance in the first leg would improve DR Congo’s prospects of progressing at Nigeria’s expense, with the decisive second encounter to follow in Nigeria.

The opening match is scheduled for Friday (today) at the TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi.

The return leg will be played at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne next week Tuesday, when the two sides will compete for a place in the next stage of the 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifying competition.