Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles suffered a 0-2 loss to DR Congo in the first leg of their U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying tie in Lubumbashi on Friday.
An own goal from goalkeeper Samuel James and a strike from Filozofe Mabete gave the hosts a two-goal advantage ahead of Tuesday’s return fixture.
The visitors made a promising start, but failed to convert their early chances.
Nigeria registered their first attempt in the fourth minute when Samuel fired wide, before the forward squandered a better opportunity five minutes later. Samuel found himself one-on-one with the Congolese goalkeeper in the ninth minute but could not find the net.
The hosts punished Nigeria for those misses when James inadvertently turned the ball into his own net midway through the first half. There was no VAR no confirmation if the ball had crossed the line before the Nigerian goalie
Things got worse for the Olympic Eagles when Brighton’s Zadok Yohanna suffered an injury and had to be replaced in the 30th minute.
DR Congo doubled their lead before half-time following another defensive lapse from the visitors.
Nigeria failed to clear a free-kick, allowing Mabete to pounce on the loose ball and fire past James from close range.
The goal sent DR Congo into the interval with a 2-0 lead, leaving Nigerians needing a response in the second half.
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Nigeria improved after the restart and pushed forward in search of a goal that would reduce the deficit.
The Olympic Eagles created an opportunity to pull one back but could not beat the Congolese goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, the return leg tie is scheduled to hold on Tuesday at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, where Nigeria need to win by at least three unreplied goals to book a place in the U23 AFCON which will enable them to keep their 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualification ticket hopes alive.
