DR Congo secure their place in the second round of the 2027 U-23 AFCON qualifiers

Following their 1-0 defeat in the first leg in Nouakchott, the Congolese side managed to turn the tie around in the return leg on Tuesday 6 October in Lubumbashi.

The U-23 Leopards continue their quest to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place in Egypt. Having been beaten by Mauritania’s U-23 side in the first leg, the Democratic Republic of the Congo won the return leg on 6 October by a two-goal margin at the TP Mazembe Stadium.

Mabete opened the scoring for the DR Congo in the 16th minute before Candidat Mapendo secured the Leopards’ U-23s’ place in the second round. He scored the winning goal in the 78th minute to make it 2–0.

At the final whistle, the DR Congo won on an aggregate score of 2–1. As for Mauritania, they were knocked out of the competition at the first round.