Head Coach Eric Chelle has called up 31 players to the Nigeria U23 National Team, Olympic Eagles, for their two-legged U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie against Democratic Republic of Congo.

The squad consists of four goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders and 10 forwards, with all the invited players instructed to report to the AM2PM Hotel in Ijebu-Ode on Sunday, 25th October.

Nigeria will play the first leg at TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi on Friday, 13th November. The return match is scheduled for the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne-Remo on Tuesday, 17th November.

The winner over the two legs will advance to the final qualifying round for the U23 AFCON, which will be hosted by Egypt next year. The tournament will determine Africa’s representatives at the Los Angeles Olympic Men’s Football Tournament.

The Olympic Eagles received a bye into the second round, while DR Congo secured their place by defeating Mauritania over two legs.

Nigeria have previously won Olympic football gold at Atlanta 1996, silver at Beijing 2008 and bronze at Rio de Janeiro 2016, but have not appeared in the Men’s Football Tournament of the Olympics in the past 10 years.

Olympic Eagles squad

Goalkeepers: Chinemerem Olughu (Nasarawa United); Clinton Andy (Rivers United); Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos); Michael Atata (Ikorodu City).

Defenders: Gift Subi (Warri Wolves); Hillary Zion (Sporting Lagos); Emmanuel Utake (Rivers United); Chibueze Oputa (Rangers Int’l); Marvelous Freedom (Ikorodu City); Kenneth Igboke (Rangers Int’l); Odinaka Alfred (Nasarawa United); Emmanuel Ochobi (Rivers United); Aliu Sugau (Barau FC).

Midfielders: 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: 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 Int’l); Alex Oweifaleya (Bendel Insurance); Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme); Habila Simon (Wikki Tourists).