Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has invited 31 home-based players to the Olympic Eagles camp as Nigeria begin preparations for their crucial two-legged U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying encounter against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

The invitation marks the beginning of Nigeria’s preparations for a decisive contest that could bring the country’s young footballers closer to qualifying for the men’s football tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The invited squad consists of four goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders and 10 forwards, providing a broad selection of locally based talents for the technical crew to assess ahead of the important fixtures.

All 31 players are expected to arrive at the AM2PM Hotel in Ijebu-Ode on Sunday, October 25, where preparations will begin for the upcoming qualifiers.

Nigeria Face DR Congo in November

The Olympic Eagles will travel to Lubumbashi for the first leg against DR Congo at the TP Mazembe Stadium on Friday, November 13.

Nigeria will then return home for the decisive second leg at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne on Tuesday, November 17.

With qualification determined by the aggregate score over the two matches, the Nigerian side will need to deliver a strong performance across both legs to secure progression to the next stage.

The encounter presents an important test for the home-based players, who will have an opportunity to demonstrate their quality and strengthen Nigeria’s chances of advancing in the continental qualifying competition.

The technical crew is expected to use the training camp to assess the players’ fitness, tactical understanding and ability to compete at the international level before the team travels to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Olympic Eagles Target Final Qualifying Round

Nigeria received a bye into the second qualifying round, giving the team a direct entry into the stage where they will face DR Congo.

The Congolese side, however, booked their place by eliminating Mauritania over two legs, setting up the upcoming showdown with Nigeria.

The winner of the two-legged encounter will advance to the final qualifying round of the U23 AFCON, which is scheduled to take place in Egypt.

Progression would bring the Olympic Eagles one step closer to securing a place in the continental tournament, which serves as the qualification pathway for Africa’s representatives at the men’s football competition of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Home-Based Players Get Opportunity to Impress

Chelle’s decision to invite 31 players from the domestic league provides an opportunity for Nigeria’s locally based footballers to stake their claims for places in the Olympic Eagles squad.

The selection also gives the coaching staff an opportunity to evaluate available domestic talent as the country begins its campaign to qualify for the next Olympic football tournament.

However, the immediate priority remains the two-legged encounter against DR Congo, with Nigeria needing to negotiate the tie successfully to keep their Olympic ambitions on course.

The first leg in Lubumbashi is expected to be particularly important, as the Olympic Eagles will seek a positive result before returning to Nigeria for the second encounter in Ikenne.

With the opening match scheduled for November 13 and the return fixture four days later, the team’s preparations will be crucial to its chances of progressing.

The Olympic Eagles must overcome the Congolese challenge before turning their attention to the final qualifying round in Egypt.