Olympic Eagles Target LA 2028 Return As Chelle Summons 31 Players To Camp
By Saheed Afolabi
Nigeria head coach, Eric Chelle has invited 31 home-based players to the Olympic Eagles as Nigeria intensify preparations for their two-legged U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying encounter against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The invited players, drawn from clubs across the Nigeria Premier Football League and other domestic competitions, will begin their preparations at the AM2PM Hotel in Ijebu-Ode, with all 31 expected to report on Sunday, October 25.
The squad comprises four goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders and 10 forwards as Nigeria seek to advance in the qualifying campaign and keep their hopes of returning to the Olympic Games alive.
The Olympic Eagles will travel to Lubumbashi for the first leg against DR Congo at the TP Mazembe Stadium on Friday, November 13, before hosting the return fixture at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on Tuesday, November 17.
Victory on aggregate will take Nigeria into the final round of qualifying for next year’s U23 AFCON in Egypt, where Africa’s representatives for the men’s football tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games will be determined.
Nigeria received a bye into the second round, while DR Congo secured their place in the tie after eliminating Mauritania over two legs.
The Olympic Eagles will be eager to end the country’s decade-long absence from the men’s football event at the Olympics. Nigeria have previously won gold at Atlanta 1996, silver at Beijing 2008 and bronze at Rio 2016.
Full 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), Ayoola Olaniyan (Sporting Lagos), Chijioke Samuel (Enyimba), Jofrank Joshua (Nasarawa United), Chimobi Igwilo (Rangers International), Alex Oweifaleya (Bendel Insurance), Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme), Habila Simon (Wikki Tourists).
