DR Congo remain in the race for the 2027 U23 Africa Cup of Nations. The young Leopards beat Mauritania 2-0 on Tuesday, October 6 at TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi, according to separate reports from Radio Okapi, FOOT.CD and FootRDC. The second-leg victory takes them into the second qualifying round, where they will face Nigeria.

The result overturns their defeat in Nouakchott: FECOFA had confirmed a 1-0 Congolese loss in the first leg on September 28. DR Congo therefore win the tie 2-1 on aggregate. The Lubumbashi match was the return leg of the first qualifying round, not a fixture at the final tournament.

Radio Okapi and FootRDC credit Mabete with the opening goal in the 16th minute and Candidat Mapendo with the second. Radio Okapi places that second goal in the 78th minute. Both outlets report a 1-0 half-time score. Guy Bukasa's side kept their two-goal advantage intact through to the final whistle.

Progress gives the young Leopards another tie on their route towards the tournament announced for Egypt in 2027. FECOFA had already identified Nigeria as the next opponent for the winner of this pairing. Clearing this hurdle does not yet secure a place at the finals: the Congolese team must now continue its campaign in the second round.

Sources and references

Radio Okapi — October 6 return-leg reportFOOT.CD — Fiston Mokili match reportFootRDC — Germain Ngoy match reportFECOFA — official first-leg report

Written with AI assistance from the cited sources and subject to editorial verification. Reported facts are distinguished from analysis; no original interviews are claimed.