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Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has invited 31 local players to the Olympic Eagles camp ahead of Nigeria’s crucial Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as the country steps up preparations for a return to Olympic men’s football at Los Angeles 2028.
Sports247 reports that the provisional squad is made up of four goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders and 10 forwards drawn largely from clubs competing in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
All invited players are expected to report to the AM2PM Hotel in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State on Sunday, October 25, ahead of the two-legged qualifier scheduled for November.
Nigeria will travel to Lubumbashi for the first leg against the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the TP Mazembe Stadium on Friday, November 13, before hosting the second leg at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne on Tuesday, November 17.
The overall winner will advance to the final qualification round for the AFCON U23, scheduled to take place in Egypt. The continental tournament will serve as Africa’s qualification route for the men’s soccer competition at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Nigeria advanced to the second qualifying round, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo advanced after eliminating Mauritania.
Sporting Lagos has five representatives in the squad, including goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt, defender Hillary Zion, midfielders Victor Samuel and Muhammad Salihu and forward Ayoola Olaniyan.
Rivers United contribute four players, while Warri Wolves also have four representatives. Ikorodu City, Nasarawa United and Rangers International are among the other clubs represented.
Invitations give players from national leagues the opportunity to demonstrate their qualities at an international level. The Nigerian men’s national football team has enjoyed considerable Olympic success, winning gold at Atlanta 1996, silver at Beijing 2008 and bronze at Rio 2016.
However, the country failed to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 tournaments. Therefore, the upcoming qualification matches represent another opportunity to rebuild Nigeria’s Olympic football ambitions.
With Chelle assembling a team dominated by domestic talent, attention now turns to preparations in Ijebu-Ode as the Olympic Eagles aim for a positive result against the Democratic Republic of the Congo and another step towards Los Angeles 2028.
COMPLETE LIST OF GUEST PLAYERS
Goalkeepers (4): Chinemerem Olughu (Nasarawa United), Clinton Andy (Rivers United), Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos), 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), 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), 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), Habila Simon (Wikki Tourists).
