Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has invited 31 home-based players to the Nigeria U-23 national team, the Olympic Eagles, for their upcoming two-legged qualifying tie against the Democratic Republic of Congo for the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The tournament, scheduled to take place in Egypt in 2027, will also serve as a qualification pathway to the men’s football competition at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Nigeria will travel to Lubumbashi for the first leg at the TP Mazembe Stadium on Friday, November 13, before hosting DR Congo in the return fixture at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on Tuesday, November 17.

The winner over two legs will advance to the final qualifying round, taking the Olympic Eagles a step closer to securing a place at the continental tournament and keeping their Olympic ambitions alive.

All 31 invited players are expected to report to the AM2PM Hotel in Ijebu-Ode on Sunday, October 25, to begin preparations for the crucial encounters.

The squad features four goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders and 10 forwards, with selections drawn from clubs across Nigeria’s domestic football system.

Nigeria received a bye into the second qualifying round, while DR Congo earned their place at this stage after eliminating Mauritania over two legs.

The Olympic Eagles are targeting a return to the men’s Olympic football tournament for the first time since Rio 2016, where Nigeria won the bronze medal.

Nigeria have previously won Olympic gold at Atlanta 1996 and silver at Beijing 2008, making qualification for Los Angeles 2028 an important objective for the country’s U-23 side.

Full List of Invited Players

Goalkeepers (4)

• Chinemerem Olughu (Nasarawa United)
• Clinton Andy (Rivers United)
• Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos)
• Michael Atata (Ikorodu City)

Defenders (9)

• Gift Subi (Warri Wolves)
• Hillary Zion (Sporting Lagos)
• Emmanuel Utake (Rivers United)
• Chibueze Oputa (Rangers International)
• Marvelous Freedom (Ikorodu City)
• Kenneth Igboke (Rangers International)
• Odinaka Alfred (Nasarawa United)
• Emmanuel Ochobi (Rivers United)
• Aliu Sugau (Barau FC)

Midfielders (8)

• Freeman Wuchirwe (Bendel Insurance)
• Victor Samuel (Sporting Lagos)
• Umar Mohammed (Nasarawa United)
• Lucky Oraro (Warri Wolves)
• Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City)
• Sani Shuaibu (Warri Wolves)
• Muhammad Salihu (Sporting Lagos)
• Jude Eventus (Warri Wolves)

Forwards (10)

• Junior Ikechukwu (Ikorodu City)
• Timothy Zechariah (Rivers United)
• Williams Wonah (Enyimba FC)
• Ayoola Olaniyan (Sporting Lagos)
• Chijioke Samuel (Enyimba FC)
• Jofrank Joshua (Nasarawa United)
• Chimobi Igwilo (Rangers International)
• Alex Oweifaleya (Bendel Insurance)
• Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme)
• Habila Simon (Wikki Tourists)