Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles have arrived in Lumumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, ahead of their first-leg encounter in the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers for the 2028 Olympic Games.
The Nigerian team landed in Lumumbashi on Tuesday with 23 players and officials for the encounter scheduled to hold on Wednesday at the Stade TP Mazembe. Kick-off is set for 3pm Nigerian time.
The qualification campaign marks Nigeria’s attempt to secure a place in the men’s football event at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Nigeria last featured in the men’s football competition at the Olympics in 2016, when the team won bronze.
The country subsequently missed the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 editions.
Head coach Eric Chelle will be absent from the touchline for the fixture as it coincides with the Super Eagles’ 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania.
Ikorodu City head coach Bright Osehai Ozebagbe and former Nigeria U-20 assistant coach Deniran Ortega will oversee the Olympic Eagles in both legs of the tie.
All 23 invited players have reported to camp, except Al-Qadsiah forward Sulaiman Sani, who has been ruled out of the encounter due to injury.
Chelle subsequently invited Nasarawa United forward Prince Bawa Oche as a replacement for the injured Sani.
The squad comprises home-based and foreign-based players, including some who featured in Nigeria’s international friendly against Russia in October.
The Olympic Eagles will seek a favourable result in Lumumbashi before the return leg scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, at the Remo Stars Sports Stadium in Ikenne.
Full Olympic Eagles squad
Goalkeepers (3): Michael Atata (Ikorodu City), Samuel James (SJK FC, Finland), Clinton Andy (Rivers United).
Defenders (7): Aliu Sugau (Barau FC), Vince Osuji (Tromsø IL, Norway), Emmanuel Ochobi (Rivers United), Christian Akpan (Genk FC, Belgium), Odinaka Alfred (Nasarawa United), Emmanuel Godwin (Pardubice FC, Czechia), Victory Akpe (FC Basel, Switzerland).
Midfielders (7): Victor Samuel (Pardubice FC, Czechia), Chibuzor Nwoko (Fulham FC, England), Sadiq Saleh (FC Metta, Latvia), John Otomewo (Reims FC, France), Wilfred George (Kristiansund FC, Norway), Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City), Daniel Daga (Molde FC, Norway).
Forwards (6): Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme), Zadok Yohanna (Brighton FC, England), Prince Bawa Oche (Nasarawa United), Peter Edokpolor (SL Benfica, Portugal), Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Králové, Czechia), Umar Abubakar (FC Famalicão, Portugal).
