Eric Chelle has named his Olympic Eagles squad for Nigeria’s 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifier against DR Congo, with Brighton forward Zadok Yohanna headlining a 23-man list that blends 16 foreign-based professionals with seven home-based players.
The Olympic Eagles squad was unveiled on Sunday night, and it underlines how seriously Chelle is taking the second-round tie. The head coach, who also handles the senior Super Eagles, has drawn his group from clubs in England, Portugal, France, Norway, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, Czechia, Latvia and Saudi Arabia, alongside seven players from the Nigeria Premier Football League.
Olympic Eagles squad: Yohanna leads the foreign-based stars
Yohanna is the headline name in the Olympic Eagles squad. The Brighton striker leads an attack that also features Benfica’s Peter Edokpolor and Famalicao’s Umar Abubakar, with Al-Qadsiah’s Sulaiman Sani and Hradec Kralove’s Abdullahi Umar completing the forward line alongside Sporting Supreme youngster Abdulmuiz Adeleke.
In midfield, former U20 star Daniel Daga earns his place after establishing himself at Norwegian side Molde, while Reims’ John Otomewo, Kristiansund’s Wilfred George and Fulham’s Chibuzor Nwoko add further European experience. Basel defender Victory Akpe and Tromso’s Vince Osuji are among the defensive picks, and SJK goalkeeper Samuel James is one of three shot-stoppers in the group.
Seven home-based players earn their places
The seven home-based players in the Olympic Eagles squad came through an assessment camp involving 24 NPFL players, with Chelle trimming that group down to the final seven. Ikorodu City goalkeeper Michael Atata is one of the success stories, alongside his club-mate Aderemi Adeoye, while Rivers United pair Clinton Andy and Emmanuel Ochobi, Nasarawa United’s Odinaka Alfred and Barau FC’s Aliu Sugau complete the domestic contingent.
Their inclusion is a reminder that the door to the national teams remains open to the local league, and all seven will travel with the squad to Lubumbashi for the first leg.
The full Olympic Eagles 23-man squad
Goalkeepers: Samuel James (SJK FC, Finland); Clinton Andy (Rivers United); Michael Atata (Ikorodu City).
Defenders: Christian Akpan (Genk, Belgium); Victory Akpe (FC Basel, Switzerland); Vince Osuji (Tromso, Norway); Emmanuel Godwin (Pardubice, Czechia); Odinaka Alfred (Nasarawa United); Emmanuel Ochobi (Rivers United); Aliu Sugau (Barau FC).
Midfielders: John Otomewo (Reims, France); Daniel Daga (Molde, Norway); Wilfred George (Kristiansund, Norway); Chibuzor Nwoko (Fulham, England); Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City); Sadiq Saleh (FC Metta, Latvia); Victor Samuel (Pardubice, Czechia).
Forwards: Peter Edokpolor (Benfica, Portugal); Sulaiman Sani (Al-Qadsiah, Saudi Arabia); Umar Abubakar (Famalicao, Portugal); Zadok Yohanna (Brighton, England); Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Kralove, Czechia); Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme).
What happens next: Lubumbashi, then Ikenne-Remo
The Olympic Eagles squad will depart Nigeria on Tuesday ahead of the first leg, which takes place at the Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi on Friday, 13 November. That game is expected to be played behind closed doors for security reasons.
The return leg follows on Tuesday, 17 November at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo, where Nigeria will look to finish the job in front of their home supporters. The winner of the two-legged tie advances to the final qualifying round for the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, with the long road to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles running through this competition.
The announcement caps a busy weekend for Chelle, who on Saturday named his 24-man Super Eagles squad for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Tanzania, with the senior camp opening in Uyo on Monday. For the Olympic Eagles, the mission is simpler: beat DR Congo over two legs and keep the Olympic dream alive. For more on the qualifiers, check today’s predictions.
Image: SportsBuddy graphic design — no licensed player photograph was available for this story.
