LA Olympics Qualifier: Seven Home Based Players Makes Chelle List For DR Congo Clash
By Saheed Afolabi
Seven home-based players have earned places in Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against the Democratic Republic of Congo as the Olympic Eagles begin their quest for a place at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Goalkeeper Michael Atata of Ikorodu City, Rivers United duo Clinton Andy and Emmanuel Ochobi, Nasarawa United defender Odinaka Alfred, Barau FC’s Aliu Sugau, Ikorodu City midfielder Aderemi Adeoye and Sporting Supreme forward Abdulmuiz Adeleke are the domestic league representatives selected by Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle.
Atata, who has previously received invitations to the senior national team, will compete with Samuel James of Finland’s SJK FC and Rivers United’s Andy for the goalkeeping position.
The inclusion of the seven locally based players provides an opportunity for the domestic league representatives to showcase their qualities in the crucial two-legged encounter.
Nigeria will travel to Lubumbashi for the first leg at the Stade TP Mazembe on Friday, November 13, before hosting the return fixture at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on Tuesday, November 17.
The overall winner will advance to the final qualifying round of the U23 AFCON in Egypt, where Africa’s representatives for the men’s football tournament at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will emerge.
FULL LIST OF INVITED PLAYERS
Goalkeepers: Samuel James (SJK FC, Finland); Clinton Andy (Rivers United); Michael Atata (Ikorodu City).
Defenders: Christian Akpan (Genk FC, Belgium); Victory Akpe (FC Basel, Switzerland); Vince Osuji (Tromsø IL FC, Norway); Emmanuel Godwin (Pardubice FC, Czechia); Odinaka Alfred (Nasarawa United); Emmanuel Ochobi (Rivers United); Aliu Sugau (Barau FC).
Midfielders: John Otomewo (Reims FC, France); Daniel Daga (Molde FC, Norway); Wilfred George (Kristiansund FC, Norway); Chibuzor Nwoko (Fulham FC, England); Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City); Sadiq Saleh (FC Metta, Latvia); Victor Samuel (Pardubice FC, Czechia).
Forwards: Peter Edokpolor (SL Benfica, Portugal); Sulaiman Sani (Al-Qadsiah FC, Saudi Arabia); Umar Abubakar (FC Famalicao, Portugal); Zadok Yohanna (Brighton FC, England); Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Kralove, Czechia); Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme).
