Olympic Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has invited 31 home-based players to camp ahead of Nigeria’s U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The squad comprises four goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders and 10 forwards drawn from clubs across Nigeria’s domestic leagues.
Nigeria will face DR Congo in the first leg at the TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi on Friday, November 13, before hosting the return leg at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on Tuesday, November 17.
The winners over the two legs will advance to the final round of qualification for the 2027 U23 AFCON in Egypt, where Africa’s representatives for the men’s football tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games will emerge.
More Read
The Olympic Eagles received a bye into the second qualifying round, while DR Congo eliminated Mauritania over two legs to book their meeting with Nigeria.
Nigeria will be seeking a return to the Olympic men’s football tournament after missing the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 editions. The country won gold at Atlanta 1996, silver at Beijing 2008 and bronze at Rio 2016.
All invited players are expected to report to the AM2PM Hotel in Ijebu-Ode on Sunday, October 25.
Invited players
Goalkeepers: Chinemerem Olughu (Nasarawa United), Clinton Andy (Rivers United), Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos), Michael Atata (Ikorodu City).
Defenders: Gift Subi (Warri Wolves), Hillary Zion (Sporting Lagos), Emmanuel Utake (Rivers United), Chibueze Oputa (Rangers International), Marvelous Freedom (Ikorodu City), Kenneth Igboke (Rangers International), Odinaka Alfred (Nasarawa United), Emmanuel Ochobi (Rivers United), Aliu Sugau (Barau FC).
Midfielders: Freeman Wuchirwe (Bendel Insurance), Victor Samuel (Sporting Lagos), Umar Mohammed (Nasarawa United), Lucky Oraro (Warri Wolves), Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City), Sani Shuaibu (Warri Wolves), Muhammad Salihu (Sporting Lagos), Jude Eventus (Warri Wolves).
Forwards: Junior Ikechukwu (Ikorodu City), Timothy Zechariah (Rivers United), Williams Wonah (Enyimba), Ayoola Olaniyan (Sporting Lagos), Chijioke Samuel (Enyimba), Jofrank Joshua (Nasarawa United), Chimobi Igwilo (Rangers International), Alex Oweifaleya (Bendel Insurance), Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme), Habila Simon (Wikki Tourists).
© Bold Sports Media. All rights reserved. If sharing, kindly credit Bold Sports as the source and include a link to the original post. Unauthorised use is prohibited.
