Olympic Eagles step up prep in Congo ahead qualifier

Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles are in Lubumbashi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, to step up preparations for Friday’s first-leg qualifier against the host nation.

All 23 invited players and officials arrived on Tuesday ahead of the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifier at the TP Mazembe Stadium on November 13, which will be played behind closed doors on security grounds.

The return leg is at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne on Tuesday, November 17.

The tie is also Nigeria’s route to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and the winner will face either Burkina Faso or Sierra Leone in the next round.

Head coach Éric Chelle will not be on the touchline because of the Super Eagles’ qualifier against Tanzania, and has handed the team to assistants Deniran Ortega and Bright Ozebagbe. The team’s media officer, Niyi Busari, said the pair are expected to use a 4-3-3 system rather than Chelle’s familiar diamond formation.

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The squad has eight home-based and 15 foreign-based players. Busari said Chelle wanted home-based players at the back.

“From the goalkeeping to the defence line, the coach wants a situation where they are NPFL players because of the strength needed for African football, while the midfield and the attack would be made up of foreign-based players,” he said.

Al-Qadsiah forward Sulaiman Sani has been ruled out through injury, and Nasarawa United’s Prince Bawa Oche has been called up as his replacement. Fulham midfielder Chibuzor Nwoko is available after renewing his expired Nigerian passport in London last week.

Nigeria last played at the Olympics in 2016, winning a bronze medal, and missed the 2020 and 2024 editions.

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