Get Guardian on GoogleNigeria will be without two of their key players ahead of their crucial Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations second-leg qualifier against DR Congo in Ikenne on Tuesday, as the team looks to overturn a two-goal deficit from the first leg.
The Leopards secured a 2-0 win on Friday afternoon in Lumumbashi, with the first goal scored under controversial circumstances as the Nigerian goalkeeper appeared to have been fouled in the six-yard box, leading to the goal.
DR Congo head to Nigeria with a two-goal advantage as they hope to qualify for the final round of qualification, where the winner will take on either Burkina Faso or Zambia.
Nigeria are now in a position to overturn the deficit but have been hit by a setback, with two of the starters in the first leg set to miss the marquee second leg in Ikenne on Tuesday evening.
Brighton forward Zadok Yohanna was substituted in before the end of the first half after sustaining an injury. The 19-year-old, who recently returned from injury, will return to England for examination and begin his recovery process.
Norwegian club Molde has requested that Daniel Daga return to the club. The midfielder played for 90 minutes on Friday and was booked in the 70th minute.
The absence of the two players means Eric Chelle’s assistant coaches, Bright Ozegbabe and Deniran Ortega, who took charge of the match in the first leg, will make adjustments to their selections in midfield and attack.
Eric Chelle, appointed to lead the Olympic Eagles, is currently with the Super Eagles for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania.
The winner between Nigeria and DR Congo will face Burkina-Faso or Zambia in the final round of qualification next year ahead of the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, which serves as the qualifying tournament for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, the DR Congo team has threatened not to travel to Nigeria over unpaid bonuses for up to nine months, according to a French source, Tribunalparlonsport. The players have reportedly refused to travel unless the bonuses are paid.
Their absence on Tuesday will lead to a forfeit of the match, with three goals awarded to Nigeria, which will see them progress to the final round without kicking a ball.
