Nigeria’s U-23 Eagles now know their route toward the 2027 tournament, and it starts with a bye straight into the second round.
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Nigeria’s U-23 Eagles will face either Mauritania or the Democratic Republic of Congo in the second round of qualifying for the 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.
The draw for the qualifying competition was held in Cairo on Tuesday. Nigeria are among 14 teams to have received byes into the second round, based on the country’s performances across the last three editions of the tournament.
The Road Ahead
First round fixtures, decided over two legs, begin in September, with first legs on Monday, 28 September and return matches on Tuesday, 6 October. Nigeria enter at the second round stage, with first legs scheduled for Monday, 9 November and return fixtures on Tuesday, 17 November. Should Nigeria progress, they would then face the winner of a tie between Burkina Faso and the winner of Sierra Leone versus Zambia in the third and final qualifying round.
| Round | Fixtures |
|---|---|
| First Round | 28 Sept (1st leg), 6 Oct (2nd leg) |
| Second Round (Nigeria enters) | 9 Nov (1st leg), 17 Nov (2nd leg) |
| Third Round | Dates to be confirmed |
More Than Just A Continental Trophy
Seven teams will ultimately qualify to join hosts Egypt at the eight team 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations finals. The tournament carries extra weight this cycle, as it will also serve as Africa’s qualifying competition for the men’s football event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, giving Nigeria’s campaign added significance after the U-23 Eagles missed out on Olympic qualification following defeat to Guinea in the previous cycle.
