Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle will miss the touchline as Nigeria’s U-23 team faces the Democratic Republic of Congo in their two-legged qualifying tie for the 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations, due to a clash with the senior team's AFCON fixtures against Tanzania, Nigeriasoccernet.com can report.
Chelle, who oversees both the Super Eagles and the Olympic Eagles, has delegated responsibility for the U-23 side to his assistants Bright Osehai Ozebagbe, Adeniran Ortega and Olatunji Baruwa.
The Malian coach recently supervised a two-week training programme with the Olympic Eagles in Ikenne, Ogun State, but will now turn his attention to the senior team's preparations for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Tanzania.
Nigeria's U-23 side are scheduled to travel to Lubumbashi for the first leg against DR Congo on November 13, the same day the Super Eagles host the Taifa Stars at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
The return fixture between the Olympic Eagles and DR Congo will take place on November 17 at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne. On the same day, the senior national team will travel to Tanzania for the second leg of their qualifying encounter.
Ozebagbe, who is the technical adviser of NPFL club Ikorodu City, will be part of the coaching team tasked with guiding the Olympic Eagles through the two matches.
Ortega also serves as an assistant coach with Nigeria's Flying Eagles. At the same time, Baruwa combines his duties as goalkeeper trainer for both the Olympic Eagles and Super Eagles with his role as goalkeeper coach at Nasarawa United.
Chelle has specifically instructed Baruwa to remain with the U-23 squad to oversee preparations and work with the team's goalkeepers during the qualifying campaign.
The arrangement will allow Chelle to concentrate on Nigeria's senior team assignment while his assistants take charge of the Olympic Eagles as they seek to overcome DR Congo and keep their continental qualification hopes alive.