Nigeria U23 head coach Éric Chelle has selected 31 home-based players for the Olympic Eagles’ camp ahead of next month’s U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The squad is made up of four goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders and 10 attackers as Nigeria prepare for a crucial two-legged second-round tie.
Qualification schedule
- The first match will be played at TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi on Friday, 13 November.
- The Olympic Eagles will then host DR Congo in the second leg at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on Tuesday, 17 November.
- The aggregate winner will advance to the final qualifying round for next year’s U23 AFCON in Egypt.
- The Egyptian tournament will determine Africa’s qualifiers for the Los Angeles Olympic Men’s Football Tournament.
Nigeria have a strong Olympic football record, having won gold at Atlanta 1996, silver at Beijing 2008 and bronze at Rio de Janeiro 2016. However, the country has not appeared in the Olympic men’s football competition for the last 10 years.
The Olympic Eagles entered directly at the second-round stage, while DR Congo booked their meeting with Nigeria by overcoming Mauritania across two legs.
All 31 invitees are expected to arrive at the AM2PM Hotel in Ijebu-Ode on Sunday, 25 October.
Nigeria U23 squad for DR Congo
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 Int’l
- Marvelous Freedom — Ikorodu City
- Kenneth Igboke — Rangers Int’l
- 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 FC
- Ayoola Olaniyan — Sporting Lagos
- Chijioke Samuel — Enyimba FC
- Jofrank Joshua — Nasarawa United
- Chimobi Igwilo — Rangers Int’l
- Alex Oweifaleya — Bendel Insurance
- Abdulmuiz Adeleke — Sporting Supreme
- Habila Simon — Wikki Tourists
