2027 AFCON 2027Q: Chelle unveils Olympic Eagles squad for DR Congo showdown

Head coach Éric Chelle has named a 23-man squad for the Olympic Eagles’ 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations second-round qualifying fixture against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Chelle included seven home-based players in the squad, while the remaining 16 players ply their trade outside Nigeria.

Peter Edokpolor, Zadok Yohanna, Samuel James, Daniel Daga, Victory Akpe and Vince Osuji are among the foreign-based professionals named in the squad.

The players and their officials will depart Nigeria on Tuesday for the first leg, scheduled to take place at the TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi on Friday, November 13.

The return leg will be played at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne-Remo, on Tuesday, November 17.

Full Squad

Goalkeepers: Samuel James (SJK FC, Finland); Clinton Andy (Rivers United); 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); 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); Victor Samuel (Pardubice FC, Czechia).

Forwards: Peter Edokpolor (SL Benfica, Portugal); Sulaiman Sani (Al-Qadsiah FC, Saudi Arabia); Umar Abubakar (FC Famalicao, Portugal); Zadok Yohanna (Brighton FC, England); Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Kralove, Czechia); Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme).