Chelle Names 23-Man Olympic Eagles Squad for DR Congo U23 AFCON Qualifiers

Eric Chelle has named a second squad in as many days. The head coach, who also oversees the Olympic Eagles, has selected 23 players for Nigeria's U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The tie is the start of the road to two tournaments: the U23 AFCON finals in Egypt next year, and through it, the men's football event at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The first leg is on Friday, November 13, at the Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi. The return leg is on Tuesday, November 17, at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State. The seven Nigeria-based players in the squad are due to depart the country on Tuesday.

The dates are the same as the senior team's: the Super Eagles host Tanzania in Uyo on November 13 and play the return leg on November 17. One coach, two teams, two countries, the same two days.

The squad

Goalkeepers: Samuel James (SJK, Finland), Clinton Andy (Rivers United), Michael Atata (Ikorodu City).

Defenders: Christian Akpan (Genk, Belgium), Victory Akpe (Basel, Switzerland), Vince Osuji (Tromsø, Norway), Emmanuel Godwin (Pardubice, Czechia), Odinaka Alfred (Nasarawa United), Emmanuel Ochobi (Rivers United), Aliu Sugau (Barau FC).

Midfielders: John Otomewo (Reims, France), Daniel Daga (Molde, Norway), Wilfred George (Kristiansund, Norway), Chibuzor Nwoko (Fulham, England), Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City), Sadiq Saleh (Metta, Latvia), Victor Samuel (Pardubice, Czechia).

Forwards: Peter Edokpolor (Benfica, Portugal), Sulaiman Sani (Al-Qadsiah, Saudi Arabia), Umar Abubakar (Famalicao, Portugal), Zadok Yohanna (Brighton, England), Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Kralove, Czechia), Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme).

The final 23 were trimmed from a 31-man home-based camp that reported to Ijebu-Ode on October 25.

The headline names

Michael Atata leads the goalkeepers. The Ikorodu City goalkeeper has received several invitations to the senior Super Eagles, and he will compete with SJK's Samuel James and Rivers United's Clinton Andy for the starting shirt.

Daniel Daga is the midfield anchor. The Molde midfielder is one of the most established names in the squad, and the player Chelle will build the midfield around.

Peter Edokpolor is the most familiar name in the attack. The Benfica forward scored the solo goal that started Nigeria's 3-3 comeback against Russia in the senior friendly in October, and he is one of several players in this squad who were in Chelle's experimental senior squad for that game, alongside Vince Osuji, John Otomewo and Aderemi Adeoye.

Abdulmuiz Adeleke is the young star to watch. The junior international is one of the headline inclusions, and the player the home fans in Ikenne will be most excited to see.

The stakes

Nigeria must overcome DR Congo over two legs to progress in the qualifying campaign for the U23 AFCON in Egypt. The tournament in Egypt will decide Africa's representatives at the men's football event of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Nigeria have a proud Olympic history in football, gold at Atlanta 1996, silver at Beijing 2008, bronze at Rio 2016, but they have not been at the Games since Rio. This is the first step on the road back.

The first test is Lubumbashi, one of the hardest away trips in African football. The second is Ikenne, where the Olympic Eagles will look to finish the job in front of their home supporters.