2027 U-23 AFCONQ: Ozebagbe Confident As Olympic Eagles Face DR Congo In Lubumbashi

Head coach of Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles Bright Ozebagbe, has declared his side ready for the challenge ahead of their 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifying tie against the Democratic Republic of Congo, insisting that the Olympic Eagles will prove their quality through their performance on the pitch.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference in Lubumbashi, Ozebagbe maintained that the outcome of a football match is determined by what happens on the field, rather than whether a team enjoys home advantage.

The gaffer also highlighted the importance of maintaining a high level of performance across both legs, noting that consistency would play a decisive role in determining which team advances to the next round.

When asked about his assessment of the Congolese U-23 team, Ozebagbe explained that his attention had been firmly on preparing his players for the encounter, rather than focusing too much on the opposition.

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Meanwhile, DR Congo U-23 head coach Guy Bukasa is targeting a strong victory over the Olympic Eagles as his team look to establish an advantage ahead of the return fixture.

Bukasa believes his players have what it takes to overcome the Nigerian challenge, drawing encouragement from their impressive turnaround against Mauritania in the previous qualifying round.

DR Congo bounced back from a 1-0 defeat in the first leg away from home to claim a 2-0 victory in the return encounter, securing their passage into the second round.

Despite recognising Nigeria as a formidable opponent, Bukasa is hopeful that home advantage and the backing of the Lubumbashi crowd will inspire his team to secure a positive result and strengthen their chances of progressing at Nigeria’s expense.

The first leg is scheduled to hold on Friday (today) at the TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi, while the return leg will take place at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne next week Tuesday.

Adeboye Amosu is a seasoned sports journalist and Senior Content Writer with extensive experience covering Nigerian football and international football. He specializes in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), provides insightful coverage, match reports, news, and analysis of the domestic game. Adeboye also follows the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Chelsea, bringing his knowledge of the teams, players, and competitions to his writing.