Chelle names 23-man squad for Nigeria’s U-23 AFCON qualifiers against DR Congo
Coach Eric Chelle has released the team list for Nigeria’s CAF Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The 23-man squad was released on the official X handle of the Nigeria Football Federation on Monday.
The first leg will be played at the Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi on November 13, while the return leg will be held at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, on November 17, 2026.
Nigeria is seeking to qualify for the U-23 AFCON, to be held in November 2027 in Egypt, where Africa’s representatives will emerge for the 2028 Olympics Men’s Football Tournament in Los Angeles, United States, slated for July 14 to 30, 2028.
The number of qualifying spots for Africa in the Olympic men’s football event has been reduced from three to two, meaning only the two finalists of the 2027 U-23 AFCON will secure tickets to the Los Angeles Olympics.
See list below
Goalkeepers: Samuel James (SJK FC, Finland), Clinton Andy (Rivers United), and Michael Atata (Ikorodu City).
Defenders: Christian Akpan (Genk FC, Belgium), Victory Akpe (FC Basel, Switzerland), Vince Osuji (Tromsø IL FC, Norway), Emmanuel Godwin (Pardubice FC, Czechia), Odinaka Alfred (Nasarawa United), Emmanuel Ochobi (Rivers United), and Aliu Sugau (Barau FC).
Midfielders: John Otomewo (Reims FC, France), Daniel Daga (Molde FC, Norway), Wilfred George (Kristiansund FC, Norway), Chibuzor Nwoko (Fulham FC, England), Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City), Sadiq Saleh (FC Metta, Latvia), and Victor Samuel (Pardubice FC, Czechia).
Forwards: Peter Edokpolor (SL Benfica, Portugal); Sulaiman Sani (Al-Qadsiah FC, Saudi Arabia); Umar Abubakar (FC Famalicão, Portugal); Zadok Yohanna (Brighton FC, England); Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Kralove, Czechia); and Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme).
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