Nigeria have announced a 23-man Olympic Eagles squad for their crucial U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie against DR Congo, with the two-legged contest forming part of the route to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games men’s football tournament.
Head coach Eric Chelle has selected a combination of European-based players and home-based talent for the fixtures.
Nigeria will play the first leg at Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi on Friday, November 13, 2026. The return match will take place at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on Tuesday, November 17.
Goalkeepers Samuel James of SJK FC in Finland, Rivers United’s Clinton Andy and Michael Atata of Ikorodu City have been included.
The defensive options are Christian Akpan of Genk FC, Victory Akpe of FC Basel, Vince Osuji of Tromsø IL, Emmanuel Godwin of Pardubice FC, Odinaka Alfred of Nasarawa United, Emmanuel Ochobi of Rivers United and Aliu Sugau of Barau FC.
Chelle’s midfield group features John Otomewo of Reims FC, Daniel Daga of Molde FC, Wilfred George of Kristiansund FC, Chibuzor Nwoko of Fulham FC, Aderemi Adeoye of Ikorodu City, Sadiq Saleh of FC Metta and Victor Samuel of Pardubice FC.
The forwards are Peter Edokpolor of SL Benfica, Sulaiman Sani of Al-Qadsiah FC, Umar Abubakar of FC Famalicao, Zadok Yohanna of Brighton & Hove Albion, Abdullahi Umar of Hradec Kralove and Sporting Supreme’s Abdulmuiz Adeleke.
Brighton & Hove Albion forward Yohanna is among the most prominent names in the squad, while SL Benfica’s Edokpolor adds attacking quality and goal threat.
Daga is expected to provide energy and control in midfield, with Fulham’s Nwoko, Genk defender Akpan and Famalicao striker Abubakar also standing out among the overseas-based players.
Atata has previously received recognition from the senior Super Eagles and brings additional experience in goal. Adeleke and Adeoye represent the home-based contingent in a squad combining international experience with domestic prospects.
Nigeria have a distinguished record in men’s Olympic football. The Dream Team won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games after defeating Brazil in the semi-finals and Argentina in the final, with Emmanuel Amuneke scoring a late winner.
They followed that success with a silver medal at Beijing 2008, where they lost to an Argentina team featuring Lionel Messi, before taking bronze at Rio 2016.
Those three podium finishes make Nigeria Africa’s most successful nation in the history of the Olympic men’s football tournament.
The current Olympic Eagles must now navigate the 2027 U-23 AFCON qualifying route, with only a limited number of African places available for the Los Angeles Games. The matches against DR Congo are therefore an important first step towards keeping Nigeria’s LA 2028 hopes alive and extending a tradition associated with players including Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha.