The Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducted the draw for the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Tuesday in Cairo, according to Punch Newspapers. The event also included the draw for the Beach Soccer AFCON qualifiers.
Punch Newspapers reports that Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles received a bye in the first round of the qualifiers. The team will enter the competition in the second round, where they are scheduled to face the winner of a tie between Mauritania and DR Congo, as reported by Daily Post Nigeria.
The draw was held live in Cairo, with CAF streaming the proceedings on its official channels, according to cafonline.com. The full list of pairings for the qualifying rounds was unveiled at the ceremony, though specific match dates and venues were not detailed in the available reporting.
The U-23 AFCON serves as a pathway for African national teams to qualify for the Olympic football tournament. The 2027 edition will determine which under-23 sides from the continent earn a place at the next Summer Games.
For Nigeria, the bye offers a competitive advantage, allowing the team to skip an early hurdle and focus preparation on a potentially difficult second-round matchup. Mauritania and DR Congo are both capable opponents, and the outcome of their first-round tie will shape Nigeria’s path forward.
The qualifiers are expected to continue over the coming months, with teams vying for a spot in the final tournament. Nigeria’s coaching staff will be monitoring the Mauritania-DR Congo fixture closely as they plan their campaign.
