Chelle calls 31 home-based players for Olympic Eagles' DR Congo qualifier
- Eric Chelle has invited 31 home-based players to the Olympic Eagles camp for the U-23 AFCON qualifier against DR Congo.
- The squad has four goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders and 10 forwards, reporting in Ijebu-Ode on Sunday.
- The first leg is in Lubumbashi on 13 November, with the return in Ikenne-Remo on 17 November.
Nigeria's U-23 coach Eric Chelle has named 31 home-based players to begin preparations for the Olympic Eagles' two-legged U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The squad is made up of four goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders and 10 forwards, drawn entirely from Nigerian clubs. Sporting Lagos and Ikorodu City have the largest presence on the list.
The players are expected to report at the AM2PM Hotel in Ijebu-Ode on Sunday, 25 October. Daily Post reported that foreign-based professionals will join the camp at a later date.
What is at stake
The first leg holds in Lubumbashi at the TP Mazembe Stadium on Friday, 13 November. The return leg is set for the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on Tuesday, 17 November.
The winner over both legs moves to the final qualifying round for the U-23 AFCON, which Egypt will host next year. That tournament will decide Africa's representatives in the men's football event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Nigeria got a bye into this second round. DR Congo reached the tie after beating Mauritania over two legs.
For the players on this list, the call-up is a rare chance to be seen in national colours. Nigeria's domestic league is often overlooked when the national teams are picked, and a strong showing here could open doors to bigger clubs and better pay.
A decade out of the Games
Nigeria has a proud Olympic football record: gold at Atlanta 1996, silver at Beijing 2008 and bronze at Rio 2016. But the country has not played in the men's Olympic football tournament for the past decade, missing the last two editions.
Getting back would mean a lot to Nigerian fans who still remember the Atlanta triumph. It would also bring the kind of exposure that helps home-based players attract scouts.
What happens next: The camp opens in Ijebu-Ode on Sunday. Chelle and his staff will use the days before the first leg to assess the domestic talent at their disposal, with the away trip to Lubumbashi on 13 November the first real test.
Sources
This story draws on reporting by:
