Nigeria head coach Éric Chelle has left the Olympic Eagles camp to focus on the Super Eagles’ 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Tanzania, following a fixture clash between the two national teams.
Chelle, who was also assigned responsibility for the Nigeria U-23 team, will miss the Olympic Eagles’ two-legged qualifying encounter against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Assistant coach Deniran Ortega is expected to take charge of the U-23 side for both matches, working alongside Ikorodu City head coach Bright Ozebagbe.
The scheduling conflict arose because the Olympic Eagles’ fixtures against DR Congo fall within the same international window as the Super Eagles’ meetings with Tanzania.
Nigeria’s U-23 team will travel to Lubumbashi for the first leg on Friday, November 13, at the Stade TP Mazembe. The return match is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo.
The Super Eagles will also face Tanzania on November 13 in Uyo before meeting the Taifa Stars again on November 17.
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Ortega takes charge in Chelle’s absence
Ortega, who has been involved with the home-based players since the U-23 camp opened, will oversee the Olympic Eagles during the qualifiers.
According to reports by ACL Sports, he handled most of the team’s training sessions on Thursday and led the technical crew during a friendly victory over Grassrunners on Friday.
The arrangement allows the U-23 side to continue preparations for the important qualifying tie while Chelle concentrates on the senior national team.
Yohanna, Daga headline 23-man squadMeanwhile, Chelle has named a 23-man squad for the Olympic Eagles’ matches against DR Congo.
Brighton forward Zadok Yohanna and Molde FC midfielder Daniel Daga are among the foreign-based players selected.
Goalkeeper Michael Atata and junior international Abdulmuiz Adeleke have also been included.
Atata will compete with SJK FC goalkeeper Samuel James and Rivers United’s Clinton Andy for a place in goal.
The squad features seven players based in Nigeria, while the remaining 16 are attached to clubs abroad. The home-based contingent is expected to travel to DR Congo on Tuesday, November 10.
Full Nigeria U-23 squad for DR Congo
Goalkeepers: Samuel James (SJK FC, Finland); Clinton Andy (Rivers United); Michael Atata (Ikorodu City).
Defenders: Christian Akpan (Genk FC, Belgium); Victory Akpe (FC Basel, Switzerland); Vince Osuji (Tromsø IL, Norway); Emmanuel Godwin (Pardubice FC, Czechia); Odinaka Alfred (Nasarawa United); Emmanuel Ochobi (Rivers United); Aliu Sugau (Barau FC).
Midfielders: John Otomewo (Reims FC, France); Daniel Daga (Molde FC, Norway); Wilfred George (Kristiansund FC, Norway); Chibuzor Nwoko (Fulham FC, England); Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City); Sadiq Saleh (FC Metta, Latvia); Victor Samuel (Pardubice FC, Czechia).
Forwards: Peter Edokpolor (SL Benfica, Portugal); Sulaiman Sani (Al-Qadsiah FC, Saudi Arabia); Umar Abubakar (FC Famalicao, Portugal); Zadok Yohanna (Brighton, England); Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Kralove, Czechia); Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme).
Nigeria chase U-23 AFCON qualification
Nigeria received a bye in the first qualifying round and must overcome DR Congo across the two legs to advance to the final qualifying round of the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.
The tournament, scheduled to take place in Egypt, will also serve as the qualification competition for Africa’s representatives in the men’s football event at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.