Olympic Eagles arrive in DR Congo for crucial U-23 Olympic qualifier

Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles have arrived in Lubumbashi, DR Congo, ahead of their first-leg encounter with the hosts in the qualifying series for the 2028 Summer Olympics.

The match is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, November 13, at the Stade TP Mazembe, with kick-off fixed for 3pm Nigerian time.

The 23 invited players and their officials arrived in the Congolese city on Tuesday as they begin their campaign to secure a place in the men’s football event at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Nigeria are seeking a return to the Olympics after missing the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 editions. Their last appearance at the competition was at Rio 2016, where they won the bronze medal.

The squad comprises home-based and foreign-based players, including several members of the team that featured in Nigeria’s international friendly against Russia in October.

Nigeria will be hoping to secure a favourable result in Lubumbashi before hosting DR Congo in the return leg at the Remo Stars Sports Stadium in Ikenne on Tuesday, November 17.

A positive outcome over the two matches will strengthen the Eagles’ hopes of progressing in the race to represent Africa at the 2028 Olympic Games.

Defenders: Aliu Sugau (Barau FC), Vince Osuji (Tromsø IL, Norway), Emmanuel Ochobi (Rivers United), Christian Akpan (Genk FC, Belgium), Odinaka Alfred (Nasarawa United), Emmanuel Godwin (Pardubice FC, Czechia), Victory Akpe (FC Basel, Switzerland).

Midfielders: Victor Samuel (Pardubice FC, Czechia), Chibuzor Nwoko (Fulham FC, England), Sadiq Saleh (FC Metta, Latvia), John Otomewo (Reims FC, France), Wilfred George (Kristiansund FC, Norway), Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City), Daniel Daga (Molde FC, Norway).

Forwards: Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme), Zadok Yohanna (Brighton FC, England), Prince Bawa Oche (Nasarawa United), Peter Edokpolor (SL Benfica, Portugal), Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Králové, Czechia), Umar Abubakar (FC Famalicão, Portugal).