The Super Eagles will put their 2027 AFCON qualification campaign back on track when they host Tanzania in a crucial Group L encounter at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, at 5pm Nigerian time.

The matchday-three fixture gives Nigeria a chance to strengthen their position in the race for a place at the tournament after a mixed start. The three-time African champions opened with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar in Uyo but failed to build on it, losing 3-0 away to Guinea-Bissau in their second game. That left Éric Chelle’s side with three points from two matches, three behind group leaders Guinea-Bissau, who have won both fixtures.

Tanzania are third with one point, level with Madagascar but ahead on goal difference. However, the Taifa Stars are already assured of a place at the 2027 finals as co-hosts alongside Kenya and Uganda. That leaves Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar to contest the group’s remaining qualification ticket.

This makes today’s game particularly important for the Super Eagles, who cannot afford another setback if they are to keep pace with Guinea-Bissau. A victory would take Nigeria to six points and increase the pressure on the group leaders ahead of the remaining fixtures.

Chelle’s side will, however, have to be wary of a Tanzania team with little pressure over qualification but an opportunity to test themselves against one of Africa’s established football nations. The visitors can also complicate Nigeria’s campaign by taking points away from Uyo.

Nigeria will be without several notable players for the double-header, including striker Victor Osimhen, who is recovering from injury. Chelle has instead included Tolu Arokodare, Akor Adams and Taiwo Awoniyi among his attacking options, while captain Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman are also in the 24-man squad. All 24 invited players have completed their assembly in Uyo as preparations intensify.

Nigeria will be seeking to make home advantage count before travelling to Zanzibar for the return fixture on Tuesday, November 17. The two matches could prove decisive in shaping their qualification prospects. The 2027 AFCON will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17.

Olympic Eagles begin Los Angeles 2028 quest

Earlier today, Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles begin their quest for a place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games when they confront DR Congo in the first leg of their second-round qualifier for the TotalEnergies CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2027. The match is at the Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi at 2pm Nigerian time.

The encounter is an important examination for Nigeria, who are seeking a return to Olympic men’s football after missing the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 editions. Nigeria last featured at the Olympics in Rio 2016, where the team won bronze under Samson Siasia. The Olympic Eagles will be eager to revive memories of that history by navigating a difficult two-legged tie against the Congolese.

Nigeria received a bye into the second round and will be playing their first competitive match of the qualifying campaign. Head coach Éric Chelle, who is engaged with the senior national team, will be absent from the dugout. Assistant coaches Deniran Ortega and Bright Ozebagbe are handling the team, while Olatunji Baruwa serves as goalkeeper trainer.

Their opponents have already negotiated the opening round, eliminating Mauritania 2-1 on aggregate after losing the first leg 1-0 away and winning 2-0 in Lubumbashi. DR Congo coach Guy Bukasa has named a 26-man squad but will be without important players Faveurdi Bongeli, Messy Manitu and Yohan Mboko, who are sidelined by injuries.

Nigeria have assembled a 23-man squad of 16 foreign-based players and seven home-based professionals. The group includes goalkeeper Michael Atata, midfielder Daniel Daga and forward Abdulmuiz Adeleke, alongside other promising players expected to provide the necessary quality. The home-based contingent emerged from 31 invitees who spent about two weeks preparing at the Remo Stars training facility in Ikenne.

The return leg is on Tuesday, November 17, at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, where Nigeria will hope to complete the job in front of their supporters. The National Sports Commission had earlier approached CAF over concerns about the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and asked for a change of venue. The request has not altered the arrangement, and the Nigerian delegation is already in Lubumbashi.

While Nigeria’s tie attracts considerable attention, several other African football heavyweights are also battling for places in the final qualifying round, and the first-leg results so far have produced some surprises.

Ghana’s Black Meteors suffered an early setback, losing 1-0 to Libya in Benghazi on Wednesday. The Ghanaians, who fielded several foreign-based youngsters including Barcelona B’s Aziz Issah, were reduced to 10 men when Dacosta Antwi was sent off in the second half. Libya capitalised, with Jebril Ejfala scoring the decisive goal. Ghana must now produce a strong performance in the return fixture in Accra on November 17 to keep their hopes alive. The Black Meteors are seeking their first Olympic appearance since Athens 2004.

Kenya delivered one of the biggest surprises of the round by beating Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 in Nairobi. Henry Omollo opened the scoring in the 65th minute and Oumar Konaté levelled for the Ivorians nine minutes later, before Andreas Odhiambo struck in the 84th minute to give Kenya a valuable advantage ahead of the return leg in Abidjan. The Emerging Stars had earlier eliminated Tanzania 5-4 on aggregate in the first round and will now fancy their chances of another important result.

Cameroon and Mali were among the biggest winners on Wednesday, both recording impressive 3-0 away victories. Cameroon beat Rwanda in Kigali, with captain Patrick Edzimbii scoring twice and Rattensi Nko adding the other. Mali dominated Zimbabwe in Harare, with Aboubacar Sidibé, Pape Sissoko and Seydou Dembélé on target to secure a commanding advantage ahead of the return fixture.

Algeria suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat to Eswatini. Gaëtan Bakhouche gave the North Africans the lead, but the hosts responded with goals in the 60th and 63rd minutes to complete an impressive comeback. Senegal were held to a goalless draw by South Sudan in Juba, leaving their tie delicately balanced ahead of the return leg in Dakar. Elsewhere, Guinea won 1-0 away to Botswana, and Burkina Faso also secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Zambia. Niger have already reached the third round without playing, following the withdrawal of Equatorial Guinea.

The bigger Olympic picture

The second round involves 27 countries competing for 14 places in the third and final qualifying round, following Equatorial Guinea’s withdrawal and Niger’s automatic progression. The winners of the second-round ties will advance to that final round in March 2027, where the seven tickets to Egypt will be decided. Those seven winners will join hosts Egypt at the eight-team U-23 AFCON finals in November 2027.

The competition will also determine Africa’s representatives at Los Angeles 2028. Unlike previous editions, Africa will have only two places, reserved for the finalists of the U-23 AFCON. Morocco are the defending champions after beating Egypt 2-1 after extra time in the 2023 final.

With Nigeria having missed the last two Olympic football tournaments, the importance of overcoming DR Congo cannot be overstated. A positive result in Lubumbashi would leave the Olympic Eagles in a better position ahead of Tuesday’s return in Ikenne, just as a win in Uyo would revive the Super Eagles’ push for the 2027 finals.(The Nation)