AFCON U23 Qualifier: DR Congo Beats Dram Team of Nigeria 2-0 in Lubunbashi.
D. R. Congo U23 boys Friday at the TP Mazambe Stadium in Lubumbahi, Congo beat their Nigerian U23 counterpart 2-0 in a match played behind closed doors for security reasons.
Nigerian defender, Samuel James scored an own goal in the 20th minute after Nigeria lost two chances to score and the Congolese turned the game against them.
Congo made Nigeria look ordinarily with a brilliant free kick scored by Filozofe Mabete in the 40th minute which the Nigerian Goalkeeper did not even move for.
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Despite the Ref adding 15 minutes of injury time, Nigeria could not upset the Congolese who started playing defensive football and the set pieces of Nigeria was very poor.
Patmos Media Line had reported that the reasons for Confederation of African Football (CAF) to insist on no crowd at the stands is not far from health concerns over alleged Ebola outbreak in that country.
The government of Democratic Republic of Congo has been denying any trace of Ebola outbreak but the World Health Organisation (WHO) is not taking chances and CAF is not willing that her organised events be a channel for the spread of the disease.
Meanwhile the return leg scheduled for this round 2 will be on Tuesday 17th November at Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne in Ogun State of Nigeria.
In their 1st round games, DR Congo lost 0-1 to Mauritania at away on 28th September but beat Mauritania in the same margin Nigeria was beaten today last 6th of October. Nigeria was drawn bye and needs extra work to beat Congo in Ikenne.
Nigerian Head Coach, Eric Chelle whose birthday was Wednesday was to manage both the Super Eagles and the U23 Male team but a clash in dates and time forced him to give the job to his immediate assistant coach for U23 team.
Chelle will be leading the Super Eagles against Taifa Stars of Tanzania at the Godwill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo in Akwa Ibom State at 5pm today in AFCON Group L match.
Nigeria won the 1st leg of the senior football game in Tanzania 2-1.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
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