Olympic Eagles free seven players for NPFL matches ahead of DR Congo qualifier
- Seven Olympic Eagles players have left camp to play for their clubs in Sunday's NPFL fixtures.
- Nasarawa United got three players back after the Nigeria Football Federation approved club requests.
- Coach Eric Chelle keeps training the rest of the squad for the DR Congo qualifiers on November 13 and 17.
Seven players have been allowed to leave the Olympic Eagles camp so they can turn out for their clubs in Sunday's Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) matches, the team's media officer Niyi Busari said.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) approved the move after several NPFL clubs asked for their players back for this weekend's round of games.
Nasarawa United got the most back, with three players returning: Joshua Jofrank, Olughu Onu Chinemerem and Muhammad Muhammad Umar.
The other four are Utake Emmanuel (Rivers United), Owelayafa Alex (Bendel Insurance), Samuel Victor Umoh (Sporting Lagos) and Ikechukwu Junior (Ikorodu City).
All eight NPFL games on Sunday kick off at 4pm. Nasarawa United, third on the table with 17 points from 10 matches, face Kano Pillars and could go top for the first time this season with a win.
The Solid Miners are level on points with Rivers United and Rangers. Rivers United host Enugu Rangers in another of Sunday's fixtures, while Bendel Insurance travel to Kwara United and Sporting Lagos are away to Katsina United.
What happens next for the Olympic Eagles
Head coach Eric Chelle will carry on with the players still in camp as he builds towards the two-legged qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The first leg is set for November 13, with the return match on November 17 at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.
Nigeria have played one warm-up game so far, a 0-0 draw with Nigeria National League side Remo Stars in Ikenne. Chelle used a home-based squad for that match, captained by Ikorodu City defender Aderemi Adeoye, who recently made his debut against Russia.
Training continues in Ijebu Ode and Ikenne, and Chelle is expected to bring in foreign-based professionals before the first leg.
For the clubs, the returns are a short-term boost in a tight title race. For the national side, it means a few days with a smaller group before the squad is strengthened for the qualifier.
