According to a report by OwnGoalNigeria on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Nigeria’s U-23 team has suffered another potential setback after Qatar-based midfielder Ridwan Popoola reportedly faced restrictions that could prevent him from joining the squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The 19-year-old, who plays for Al Wasl, is now a major doubt for the two-legged qualifying matches scheduled for November. His availability has become uncertain following an earlier incident in which his club reportedly prevented him from representing Nigeria during a 3-3 international friendly draw against Russia earlier this month.

Popoola joined Al Wasl during the summer transfer window after leaving Hungarian side Kisvárda. However, his move to Qatar has raised questions about his ability to honour future international invitations, with Nigeria’s preparations potentially affected by the situation.

According to the report, U-23 coach Eric Chelle is not confident that the midfielder will be available for the crucial encounters. His possible absence would reduce the options available to the coaching staff as they work to assemble a competitive squad for the qualifiers.

Popoola’s circumstances are reportedly similar to those of Hassan Sani, a goalkeeper at Al Ain who also failed to respond to a Nigerian invitation following reported intervention from his club. Both players are said to be facing complications linked to their situations in Qatar.

The report further suggests that Popoola may remain unavailable to Nigeria for as long as the current circumstances continue. It also raises the possibility that he could only regain the freedom to represent the country after leaving Qatar, although his future international plans remain uncertain.

There are also indications that the midfielder could consider representing Qatar in the future. According to the report, he has already received a Qatari passport, a development that could be relevant to a possible change of international allegiance, depending on the applicable eligibility regulations.

Sani has reportedly obtained a Qatari passport as well and could potentially become eligible to represent the country in goal in two years. Qatar’s domestic restrictions on foreign goalkeepers have also been cited as part of the circumstances surrounding his situation.

Popoola’s uncertainty creates another challenge for Chelle as Nigeria prepare to face DR Congo in November. The coach will be hoping to secure the availability of his preferred players as the team pursues qualification for the U-23 AFCON.

The qualifying campaign is also important to Nigeria’s broader preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, making the availability of eligible players a significant concern for the coaching staff.