The Democratic Republic of Congo will host Nigeria's U-23 "Olympic Eagles" behind closed doors for the first leg of their 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifying second-round tie. The match is scheduled to take place on Friday, 13 November, at the TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi.
Authorities have mandated the closure of the venue to spectators as part of security measures designed to ensure safety in the area. This decision means the Nigerian side will play without the support of fans in the opening fixture of the two-legged series.
Path to the Third Round
DR Congo is expected to seek a favorable result in the first leg, aiming to put pressure on Nigeria ahead of the return match. The second leg of the tie will be held at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne on Tuesday, 17 November.
The winner of this two-legged encounter will advance to the third round of the qualifiers. In that stage, the victor will face either Burkina Faso or Sierra Leone, depending on the outcome of their respective second-round matches.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>