NGA 0:2 CON: Worst Players For Nigeria In The First Half Against DR Congo

According to a report by Flashscore on Friday, November 13, 2026, Nigeria’s U23 national team endured a disappointing first half against the Democratic Republic of Congo, with four players standing out for the wrong reasons as the Olympic Eagles went into the break trailing 2-0.

The Nigerian team struggled to cope with the pressure from their opponents, conceding twice in the opening 45 minutes. Samuel James scored an own goal in the 15th minute before Filozofe Mabete doubled DR Congo’s advantage in the 35th minute.

Here are four Nigerian players who struggled during the first half.

The Nigerian goalkeeper had an unfortunate first half after putting the ball into his own net in the 15th minute. His own goal handed DR Congo an early advantage and put additional pressure on his teammates. It was certainly a moment he would want to forget.

Christian Akpan also had a difficult opening period as Nigeria struggled to maintain defensive stability. The defender was expected to help keep the Congolese attackers under control, but the team’s defensive problems left plenty of room for improvement.

Daniel Daga failed to provide the desired control in midfield as DR Congo enjoyed periods of dominance. The Nigerian midfielder needed to offer better protection to the defence and help his teammates regain possession more effectively.

Chibuzor Nwoko completes the list after struggling to make a significant impact during the opening 45 minutes. Nigeria lacked the attacking creativity and urgency needed to trouble DR Congo, and the midfielder will need to offer more after the restart.

Overall, the Olympic Eagles delivered an underwhelming first-half performance, with their defensive and midfield weaknesses contributing to the two-goal deficit.

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