Éric Chelle picks 23 players for Nigeria's U-23 qualifier vs DR Congo

Éric Chelle, head coach of Nigeria's Olympic Eagles, has named a 23-player squad for the team's important 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations second-round qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo. The group mixes domestic and overseas talent, with seven home-based footballers and 16 professionals based abroad. Among the foreign-based players are Peter Edokpolor, Zadok Yohanna, Samuel James, Daniel Daga, Victory Akpe and Vince Osuji. The squad and its official delegation are due to leave Nigeria on Tuesday before the opening leg, which will be played on Friday, November 13, at TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi. The second leg is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo. Complete roster: 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).