Congo coach, Claude Le Roy, has promised to eliminate Nigeria when both sides meet in a 2016 Olympic Games football qualifier in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday.
The Frenchman led the Congo senior team, the Red Devils, to beat the Super Eagles 3-2 in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, during their qualifying series for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. It was the first time Nigeria would lose an AFCON qualifier on home soil; it also culminated into Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the tournament.
Congo have never featured in the Olympic football tournament but Le Roy insists the U-23 side are in their best shape to beat Nigeria and book a place in the African U-23 Championship that serves as the last qualifier for the Olympics.
“We are in an identical position to last year with no one beyond Congo giving us a chance,” Le Roy was quoted as saying by AFP.
“But my team have a huge chance of not only eliminating Nigeria, but qualifying for the Rio Olympics. There is no reason why we should fear Nigeria.
“Congolese football has made tremendous progress recently and we must maintain that improvement.”
Le Roy can call on four of his senior squad for the third-round, first-leg clash – goalkeepers Christoffer Mafoumbi and Pavelh Ndzila, defender Sagesse Babele and striker Sylvere Ganvoula.
While Nigeria received first and second-round byes, Congo defeated former Ghana via penalties when aggregate score had stood at 1-1.
Nigeria coach, Samson Siasia, is not about to take chances by underrating the Congolese. He has included in his squad star players from the Flying Eagles that recently played the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Flying Eagles stars Taiwo Awoniyi, Saviour Godwin and midfielder Musa Yahaya have boosted the team since arriving from the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.