2028 Olympics Qualifiers: Nigeria's U-23 Eagles Face DR Congo Without Two Key Players

Nigeria's Olympic Eagles have suffered a double blow ahead of their decisive return leg against DR Congo, with Daniel Daga and Zadok Yohana ruled out of the encounter. The duo will not be available for the second leg of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie, which also serves as part of the qualification pathway to the men's football event at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Yohana, a Brighton and Hove Albion winger, has been released from the Nigerian camp to return to England for medical attention following an injury sustained during the first leg in Lubumbashi. He was replaced by Umar Abdullahi in the 25th minute after struggling to continue. Despite his disappointment at missing the decisive encounter, Yohana has expressed confidence in his teammates' ability to overturn the deficit.

Daga, who featured in the first-leg defeat and received a yellow card in the 70th minute, will equally miss Tuesday's encounter after being released following a request from his club. His absence represents another challenge for the coaching crew as it considers its options for a match in which Nigeria must produce a much-improved performance to remain in contention.

Nigeria's difficulties ahead of the return leg stem from their disappointing performance in Lubumbashi, where DR Congo secured a 2-0 victory. The hosts took the lead in the 15th minute through Filozofe Mabete after a controversial goal-line decision. Mabete doubled the advantage in the 36th minute, finishing from close range following a set-piece situation that exposed weaknesses in Nigeria's defensive organisation.

The Olympic Eagles created opportunities, particularly in the early stages, but failed to convert them into goals. Despite making changes after the break, Nigeria could not find a way past the Congolese defence and will now have to respond in front of their home supporters. The Nigerian team must score at least twice without conceding to force the tie into a favourable position.

The decisive encounter is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State. The winner of the two-legged contest will advance to the final qualifying round, where either Sierra Leone or Burkina Faso awaits. The tie is part of the qualification campaign for the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Nigeria, who won Olympic football gold at Atlanta 1996, silver at Beijing 2008 and bronze at Rio 2016, are seeking a return to the competition after missing the last two editions. With Daga and Yohana unavailable, the Olympic Eagles' coaching crew will have to reorganise the squad and identify alternatives capable of delivering the goals required to keep the country's qualification hopes alive.

Key points

• Nigeria's U-23 Eagles will be without Daniel Daga and Zadok Yohana in their crucial 2028 Olympics qualifier against DR Congo.
• The team must score at least twice without conceding to force the tie into a favourable position.
• The winner of the two-legged contest will advance to the final qualifying round, where either Sierra Leone or Burkina Faso awaits.