U-23 AFCON Qualifiers: Nigeria-DR Congo and Ghana-Libya headline high-stakes second-round ties

Nigeria's Olympic team face a difficult two-legged encounter against DR Congo, while Ghana, Senegal, Morocco and Côte d'Ivoire are among the African football heavyweights seeking places in the final qualifying round of the TotalEnergies CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2027.

The second round gets underway on Wednesday, 11 November, with the return fixtures scheduled between 15 and 17 November, as 27 teams battle for 14 places in the third and final qualifying round.

Equatorial Guinea's withdrawal has already handed Niger qualification without playing, leaving 13 ties to be decided on the pitch.

The competition will determine the seven countries that join hosts Egypt at next year's eight-team finals, which will also serve as Africa's qualification pathway for the men's football tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Nigeria face demanding DR Congo test

Nigeria's encounter with DR Congo is among the standout fixtures, with the Olympic Eagles travelling to Lubumbashi for Friday's first leg before hosting the return match in Ikenne on 17 November.

Nigeria have named a 23-man squad featuring midfielder Daniel Daga, goalkeeper Michael Atata and emerging forward Abdulmuiz Adeleke.

DR Congo coach Guy Bukasa has selected 26 players, although injuries to Faveurdi Bongeli, Messy Manitu and Yohan Mboko have complicated preparations.

Nigeria, Olympic gold medallists in 1996, are seeking a return to the Games after missing the last two editions.

Ghana bank on European-based youngsters

Ghana's Black Meteors begin their campaign away to Libya in Benghazi on Wednesday, with coach Desmond Ofei selecting eight foreign-based players.

Barcelona B youngster Aziz Issah headlines the squad, alongside David Oduro of Annecy, Real Madrid II's Oscar Frimpong and Swansea City's Joseph Opoku.

Libya reached this stage after overcoming Togo 4-1 on aggregate, making the North Africans dangerous opponents for a Ghanaian side hoping to end its Olympic absence dating back to 2004.

The return fixture takes place in Accra on 17 November.

Kenya seek another upset as Senegal travel to Juba

Kenya face a challenging assignment against Côte d'Ivoire after eliminating Tanzania 5-4 on aggregate in the opening round.

Coach Anthony Kimani has included Aldrine Kibet and Kevin Wangaya but will be without suspended midfielder Kelly Madada and injured defender Joseph Bate.

Senegal, meanwhile, travel to South Sudan with coach Serigne Saliou Dia selecting 15 foreign-based players, including Rio Ave's Antoine Junior Wenck and Gent's Ibrahima Cissé.

Elsewhere, Morocco face Ethiopia, Cameroon meet Rwanda and Tunisia tackle Gabon in potentially difficult ties.

Burkina Faso's meeting with Zambia and Mali's encounters against Zimbabwe also promise competitive contests.

The winners will advance to the final qualifying round, scheduled for March 2027, when Africa's seven representatives at the continental finals will be determined.