Congo DR U23 vs Mauritania U23 - CAF U23 Cup of Nations

The CAF U23 Cup of Nations returns to the home ground on October 6, 2026, where Congo DR U23 and Mauritania U23 will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. That coronation came from City's £116m summer signing Elliot Anderson - and has been hotly debated in the build-up to the Manchester derby Super Sunday showdown at Old Trafford, which you can watch live on Sky Sports.

There is little to choose between Congo DR U23 and Mauritania U23 on paper, and the CAF U23 Cup of Nations encounter should reflect that balance. The hosts will hope that the the home ground crowd can inspire a performance, whatever the numbers suggest. Mauritania U23's away form is hard to read, but they will arrive with the belief that they can trouble their hosts. On Wednesday night, Infantino was given the "full support" of FIFA's management board in a statement despite being forced to abandon his plan to sell stakes in a company to run the World Cup to private investors.

Stylistically, this is a compelling matchup. Congo DR U23 favour a patient, possession-based approach, whereas Mauritania U23 are at their most dangerous when allowed to hit quickly on the counter. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: "If I’m Manchester United right now, I say press the green button and buy him, take him, right now.

The fixture is likely to be shaped by its key performers, with creative midfielders and clinical finishers on both sides capable of turning the game in an instant. The battle in midfield, where both sides look to control tempo, could prove the decisive arena. As a box-to-box midfielder, the 23-year-old is putting up numbers that at least mean he is comparable.

The fixture has the feel of a coin-flip, and picking a winner with any conviction would require a braver pundit than most. The signals point towards a stalemate, with the two sides closely matched across form and standings. A 1-1 draw is easy to envisage. More than just three points is on the line at the home ground — this is a fixture that could shape the narrative of both clubs' seasons. The 22-year-old was likely quite high up on the list of United's midfield targets and potentially even higher after Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga blows.