Eric Chelle Set to Drop 18 Players as Nigeria U-23 Squad Prepares for DR Congo

Posted : 02 November 2026

Nigeria U-23 head coach Eric Chelle is preparing to make significant changes to his squad ahead of the country's upcoming 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

The Franco-Malian tactician is reportedly set to release 18 players from the 30-man domestic-based group currently in camp. The decision follows the team's first preparatory friendly against Nigeria National League (NNL) side Remo Stars, which ended in a goalless draw on Saturday, October 31, at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.

Chelle initially assembled a group of home-based players drawn from various Nigerian clubs to assess their abilities before the crucial continental assignment. The friendly provided an opportunity for the technical crew to evaluate individual performances, tactical understanding and overall team coordination.

However, the Olympic Eagles struggled to find the breakthrough against Remo Stars. The result gave Chelle an opportunity to identify areas requiring improvement as he works towards building a competitive squad for the qualifiers.

According to reports, 18 players are expected to leave the training camp, while 13 foreign-based professionals are scheduled to join the team later this week. Their arrival will strengthen the available options as Nigeria moves towards finalising its selection for the two-legged encounter.

Several of the foreign-based players were reportedly part of the Nigerian team that played out a 3-3 draw against Russia in an international friendly. They are expected to report after completing their respective club fixtures in Europe.

The combination of retained domestic players and returning foreign-based professionals will give Chelle additional options across different positions. The coaching crew will also have to build team chemistry quickly, considering the limited time available before the first leg.

Nigeria's opening fixture against DR Congo is scheduled for Friday, November 13, at the TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi. The return leg will take place on Tuesday, November 17, at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.

The winner of the two-legged encounter will advance to the final qualifying round of the 2027 U-23 AFCON, scheduled to take place in Egypt. The tournament will also determine Africa's representatives in the men's football competition at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Nigeria received a bye into the second qualifying round, while DR Congo secured their place after eliminating Mauritania.

The Olympic Eagles are seeking a return to the Olympic football tournament after missing the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris editions. Nigeria previously won gold at Atlanta 1996, silver at Beijing 2008 and bronze at Rio 2016.

Chelle's immediate task is to assemble a balanced squad capable of overcoming DR Congo and keeping Nigeria's qualification hopes alive.

Eric Chelle Set to Drop 18 Players as Nigeria U-23 Squad Prepares for DR Congo

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics