Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has drawn up a watch list of 63 foreignbased players as he prepares Nigeria’s U-23 team for their forthcoming Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifying tie against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Chelle is expected to combine his Super Eagles duties with the responsibility of coaching the Olympic team as Nigeria begins its campaign to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Nigeria will travel to face DR Congo in the first leg on November 9, while the return leg is scheduled for November 17.

According to SCORENigeria, the coach’s list comprises four goalkeepers, 20 defenders, 16 midfielders and 23 forwards. Several of the players being monitored have already earned invitations to the Super Eagles, underlining Chelle’s plan to identify promising talents who can strengthen the country’s U-23 side.

They include goalkeepers Samuel James and Isaac James, as well as Abdullahi Bewene, Vince Osuji, Christian Akpan, Wilfred Igor, Peter Edokpolor, Abubakar Abdullahi and Abdullahi Umar. The large number of players being monitored reflects the coach’s effort to widen his options ahead of the qualifiers.