By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Oct. 23, 2026
Head Coach Éric Chelle has invited 31 home-based players to the U-23 national team, Olympic Eagles, ahead of next month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying fixture against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).
The invited players comprise four goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders and 10 forwards for the two-legged encounter.
The first leg will hold at the TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi on Friday, Nov. 13, while the return leg is scheduled for Nov. 17, at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne-Remo.
The winner over the two legs will advance to the final qualifying round of the U-23 AFCON, scheduled to hold in Egypt next year.
The tournament will determine Africa’s representatives at the men’s football event of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Nigeria, who won Olympic football gold at Atlanta 1996, silver at Beijing 2008 and bronze at Rio 2016, have not featured in the men’s football event at the Olympics in the past decade.
The Olympic Eagles received a bye into the second qualifying round, while DR Congo progressed after defeating Mauritania over two legs.
All invited players are expected to report at AM2PM Hotel, Ijebu-Ode, on Sunday.
LIST OF 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 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).
