Nigeria’s U23 national team coach, Éric Chelle, has invited 31 home-based players to camp ahead of next month’s Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Olympic Eagles will face DR Congo in a two-legged encounter as they begin their campaign to secure qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The invited squad comprises four goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders and 10 forwards drawn from clubs across the Nigerian domestic football leagues.
According to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the first leg will take place at the TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi on Friday, 13 November 2026.
The return leg is scheduled for Tuesday, 17 November, at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State.
The winners over the two legs will advance to the final qualifying round for the 2027 U23 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place in Egypt.
The continental tournament will determine Africa’s representatives at the men’s football competition of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
READ ALSO: NSC Confirms Eric Chelle Continues As Super Eagles Coach
Nigeria received a bye into the second round of qualifying, while DR Congo defeated Mauritania over two legs to book their place in the encounter.
The Olympic Eagles will be seeking to return to the Olympic men’s football tournament after missing the previous two editions.
Nigeria won gold at Atlanta 1996, silver at Beijing 2008 and bronze at Rio 2016.
All 31 invited players are expected to report to the AM2PM Hotel in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, on Sunday, 25 October.
List of Invited Players:
Goalkeepers: Chinemerem Olughu (Nasarawa United), Clinton Andy (Rivers United), Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos) and Michael Atata (Ikorodu City).
Defenders (9): 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) and Aliu Sugau (Barau FC).
Midfielders (8): 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) and Jude Eventus (Warri Wolves).
Forwards (10): Junior Ikechukwu (Ikorodu City), Timothy Zechariah (Rivers United), Williams Wonah (Enyimba FC), Ayoola Olaniyan (Sporting Lagos), Chijioke Samuel (Enyimba FC), Jofrank Joshua (Nasarawa United), Chimobi Igwilo (Rangers International), Alex Oweifaleya (Bendel Insurance), Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme) and Habila Simon (Wikki Tourists).
