Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, has named a 23-man squad for this month’s U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Goalkeeper Michael Atata, midfielder Daniel Daga and promising junior international Abdulmuiz Adeleke are among the players selected for the crucial home-and-away tie.
Atata, who has received several invitations to the Super Eagles, will compete with SJK FC’s Samuel James and Clinton Andy for the starting goalkeeper position as Nigeria seeks to secure a place in next year’s U-23 AFCON finals in Egypt.
The tournament will determine Africa’s representatives at the men’s football event of the 2028 Olympic Games.
Other players named include defenders Victory Akpe, Vince Osuji and Emmanuel Ochobi; midfielders Chibuzor Nwoko and Aderemi Adeoye; and forwards Peter Edokpolor, Zadok Yohanna and Umar Abubakar.
The seven players based in Nigeria are scheduled to depart the country on Tuesday ahead of the first leg, which will take place at the Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi on Friday, November 13.
The return leg is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo.
23 PLAYERS 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 FC, 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 FC, England); Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Kralove, Czechia); Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme)
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