Nigeria head coach Bright Ozebagbe says the Olympic Eagles are prepared for the challenge of facing Democratic Republic of Congo in their 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifying tie.
Ozebagbe was speaking at the pre-match press conference in Lubumbashi before Friday’s first-leg meeting at the TP Mazembe Stadium.
The coach said the result would be decided by events on the pitch, rather than by which side had home advantage.
“The outcome of a football match is determined by what happens on the field,” was the substance of Ozebagbe’s message as he insisted Nigeria would demonstrate their quality through their performance.
He also stressed the need for the Olympic Eagles to maintain their standards over both matches, saying consistency would be crucial in deciding which team progresses to the next round.
Asked about his view of the DR Congo U-23 side, Ozebagbe said his priority had been preparing his own players for the tie instead of concentrating excessively on the opposition.
The Olympic Eagles arrived in Lubumbashi ahead of the first leg, with the second match scheduled to take place at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne next week Tuesday.
Bukasa wants first-leg advantage
DR Congo U-23 coach Guy Bukasa is aiming for a positive home result that would give his side an advantage before the return fixture in Nigeria.
Bukasa believes his players are capable of defeating the Olympic Eagles, having drawn confidence from the team’s recovery against Mauritania in the previous qualifying round.
DR Congo lost the first leg 1-0 away from home in that tie but responded with a 2-0 victory in the return match to secure their place in the second round.
The coach acknowledged that Nigeria would provide a difficult test, but he believes home advantage and support from the Lubumbashi crowd can help his side produce a strong result.
Bukasa is hoping that victory would improve DR Congo’s prospects of reaching the next stage at Nigeria’s expense.
The first leg will be played on Friday (today) at the TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi, with the return leg to follow at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne next week Tuesday.