Super Eagles and Olympic Eagles set for dual qualifiers as Nigeria prepares for Tanzania and DR Congo ties

Nigeria’s head coach, Éric Chelle, has named a 24-player squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania. The senior team will host the Tanzanian side at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, 13 November, before travelling to Zanzibar’s Amman Stadium for the return leg on Tuesday, 17 November. Wilfred Ndidi leads the selection, which features defenders Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and strikers Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, and Akor Adams. Arthur Okonkwo, Francis Uzoho, and Stanley Nwabali round out the squad in goal.

In parallel, the Democratic Republic of Congo U‑23 side, coached by Guy Bukasa, has named a 26‑man squad for its second‑round qualifying encounter with Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles. The first leg will be staged at the TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi on Friday, 13 November, with the return fixture scheduled for Tuesday, 17 November at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State. Bukasa’s selection retains the core that secured a 2‑1 aggregate win over Mauritania in the previous round and features nine players based abroad alongside seventeen domestic‑league players.

Background

These fixtures are part of Group L in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, a tournament that will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda next summer. Occupying second place in their group, the Nigerian side needs victories in both encounters to keep their hopes of claiming the single available berth alive. The squad list, posted on the Nigeria Football Federation website, highlights a mix of Europe‑based talent and home‑grown players, reflecting Chelle’s strategy to blend experience with emerging prospects.

The U‑23 qualifier is a two‑legged tie that determines which side advances to the third qualifying round, where the winner will face either Burkina Faso or Sierra Leone for a place in the 2027 Africa U‑23 Cup of Nations. Bukasa’s squad composition underscores the DR Congo federation’s emphasis on integrating foreign‑based players to bolster the team’s competitiveness, while maintaining a strong domestic core.

Why it matters

For the senior Super Eagles, the outcomes of the Tanzania fixtures directly impact Nigeria’s path to the 2027 AFCON tournament. Securing victories would solidify their position at the top of Group L and keep the nation’s footballing ambitions alive. The exclusion of goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and striker Kelechi Iheanacho from Chelle’s list has drawn attention, given Iheanacho’s recent scoring form, suggesting tactical considerations ahead of the matches.

The U‑23 Olympic Eagles face a similar high‑stakes scenario. Advancing past DR Congo would bring Nigeria closer to the U‑23 AFCON finals, a platform that often serves as a springboard for senior national team selection. The tie also offers exposure for the nine foreign‑based Congolese players, while the domestic‑based majority highlights the depth of talent within the DR Congo league system.

What happens next

Nigeria’s senior side will kick off the first leg against Tanzania on 13 November in Uyo, with the decisive second leg set for 17 November in Zanzibar. The outcomes will determine whether the Super Eagles retain a realistic chance of topping Group L and qualifying for the tournament.

Concurrently, the DR Congo U‑23 team will host Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles on 13 November in Lubumbashi, followed by the return match in Ikenne on 17 November. The aggregate winner will move on to face either Burkina Faso or Sierra Leone in the third qualifying round, with the exact date of that subsequent tie yet to be announced.

Both sets of fixtures are pivotal for Nigeria’s footballing calendar, influencing senior and youth team trajectories ahead of major continental competitions.