U23 AFCON Qualifiers: DRC overturns Mauritania (2-0), Libya eliminates Togo in Misrata
Two tickets for the second round of the Egypt 2027 U23 AFCON qualifiers were decided on October 6, 2026: the Democratic Republic of Congo beat Mauritania 2-0 at the TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi, and Libya dominated Togo 3-1 in Misrata.
Lubumbashi turns the tables
Beaten 1-0 in the first leg in Nouakchott, Guy Bukasa's U23 Leopards had no room for error. Mabete freed the stadium in the 16th minute, and Candidat Mapendo sealed the qualification in the 78th, reports Radio Okapi. The Congolese selection, described as defensively solid and efficient in decisive moments, held onto its lead until the final whistle, carried by its Katanga crowd.
Libya sets up a date with Ghana
In Misrata, Libya validated its qualification by beating Togo 3-1, according to Africa Top Sports. A Libyan defender opened the scoring in the 25th minute, taking advantage of a Togolese defense caught off guard; Djibril Bastou narrowed the gap in the second half before the hosts added a third goal late in the match. The Libyans will face Ghana in the second round.
For the Sparrowhawks, the elimination leaves a bitter taste: held to a draw at home in Lome on September 30, they were condemned to pull off a feat away from home. Togo therefore leaves a competition that also serves as an antechamber to major Olympic events very early.
A generation that counts
These qualifications do not make the headlines of major international media, but they carry weight: the U23 AFCON is the tournament where future starters for the continent's senior teams are spotted, and European clubs send their scouts there. South Sudan, which passed a round for the first time in its history and will challenge Senegal, is the illustration: African hierarchies are shifting from the bottom up.
The next stage will be played in the second round, with promising matchups: Libya vs. Ghana, and a DRC team waiting for its opponent. The teams that qualify at the end of the journey will join Egypt, the host country for the final phase in 2027.
This article was written in French with the help of artificial intelligence from the sources cited below, then translated from French automatically. Read the original.
