Chibby Nwoko has cleared the passport hurdle that threatened his Nigeria debut, with the Fulham midfielder now available for selection ahead of the Olympic Eagles’ Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against DR Congo.
The Chibby Nwoko passport issue had left his participation in the November international window uncertain after his Nigerian passport expired. According to reports, the document was successfully renewed in London last week, removing the administrative obstacle and paving the way for his inclusion in the Olympic Eagles’ final 23-man squad for the qualifiers.
Chibby Nwoko: from Fulham academy to the Super Eagles
Nwoko’s route to this point has been a steady climb through the Fulham system. Born in London on 5 December 2005, he joined the Fulham academy at under-12 level after an earlier spell with Chelsea, and was promoted to the club’s under-21 side ahead of the 2024-25 season.
He spent the second half of the 2025-26 season on loan at Forest Green Rovers, where he made 20 league appearances and scored one goal, starting 17 consecutive matches. His progress continued on his return to Craven Cottage, and on 27 August 2026 he made his Fulham senior debut, playing 22 minutes in a 3-0 Carabao Cup win over AFC Wimbledon.
His international breakthrough came on 6 October 2026, when he made his Nigeria debut in a 3-3 friendly draw against Russia in Nizhny Novgorod, one of seven players to win their first caps that night. Nwoko has since revealed that Fulham team-mates Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey motivated him to choose Nigeria over England, telling the club’s academy channel that their influence shaped his decision.
Why the passport mattered for DR Congo
The expired passport was never going to stop Nwoko playing in a friendly, and it did not stop him facing Russia. A competitive fixture is a different matter, and Friday’s qualifier in Lubumbashi is exactly that: a competitive appearance for Nigeria would provisionally tie him to the country under FIFA’s eligibility rules.
That is what makes the renewal so significant. Nwoko won three caps for England’s under-18 side in 2023, but all three came in friendly matches, leaving his international future open. He is eligible for Nigeria through his father, whose family comes from Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, and he has now affirmed his commitment to the Super Eagles cause.
The first leg kicks off at 5pm on Friday, 13 November at the Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi, and is expected to be played behind closed doors for security reasons. Nigeria then host the return leg at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on Tuesday, 17 November, with the winner advancing to the final qualifying round against either Burkina Faso or Zambia for a place at the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
What Nwoko brings to the Olympic Eagles
Nwoko is a left-footed midfielder who has already shown he can handle senior football, and his inclusion gives the Olympic Eagles another option in the middle of the park for a tie that will be decided over two legs in five days. He joins a midfield group that includes Molde’s Daniel Daga, Reims’ John Otomewo and Kristiansund’s Wilfred George, with Ikorodu City’s Aderemi Adeoye among the home-based options.
Head coach Eric Chelle will not be in Lubumbashi, with the Super Eagles boss staying in Uyo for the senior side’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania on the same dates. Assistant coach Deniran Ortega takes charge of the Olympic Eagles, assisted by Ikorodu City coach Bright Ozebagbe, and will be able to call on Nwoko from the start of the tie.
The paperwork is done, the passport is renewed, and the Fulham midfielder is free to play. For more on the qualifiers, check today’s predictions.
Image: SportsBuddy graphic design — no licensed player photograph was available for this story.
