Éric Chelle, head coach of Nigeria's U-23 national team, has named a 31-man squad — drawn entirely from home-based players — as the Olympic Eagles prepare for their Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifying tie against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The squad is composed of four goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders, and 10 forwards. All players are expected to report to the AM2PM Hotel in Ijebu-Ode on Sunday, October 25, ahead of preparations for the two-legged qualifier.

Two legs, high stakes

Nigeria travel to Lubumbashi for the first leg at the TP Mazembe Stadium on Friday, November 13, before welcoming DR Congo to the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo for the return leg on Tuesday, November 17.

The aggregate winner progresses to the final round of the U-23 AFCON qualifying series, which precedes next year's tournament in Egypt. Beyond the continental prize, the competition also serves as Africa's primary pathway to the men's football event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

A decade without Olympic football

Nigeria's absence from the Olympic men's football tournament stretches back a full decade — a painful gap for a nation with one of Africa's proudest Olympic football records. The Olympic Eagles claimed gold at Atlanta 1996, silver at Beijing 2008, and bronze at Rio 2016.

Nigeria entered the qualifiers at the second round after receiving a bye in the first round, while DR Congo advanced by eliminating Mauritania across two legs.

Full squad

Goalkeepers: Chinemerem Olughu (Nasarawa United), Clinton Andy (Rivers United), Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos), Michael Atata (Ikorodu City)

Defenders: Gift Subi (Warri Wolves), Hillary Zion (Sporting Lagos), Emmanuel Utake (Rivers United), Chibueze Oputa (Rangers Int'l), Marvelous Freedom (Ikorodu City), Kenneth Igboke (Rangers Int'l), Odinaka Alfred (Nasarawa United), Emmanuel Ochobi (Rivers United), Aliu Sugau (Barau FC)

Midfielders: Freeman Wuchirwe (Bendel Insurance), Victor Samuel (Sporting Lagos), Umar Mohammed (Nasarawa United), Lucky Oraro (Warri Wolves), Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City), Sani Shuaibu (Warri Wolves), Muhammad Salihu (Sporting Lagos), Jude Eventus (Warri Wolves)

Forwards: Junior Ikechukwu (Ikorodu City), Timothy Zechariah (Rivers United), Williams Wonah (Enyimba FC), Ayoola Olaniyan (Sporting Lagos), Chijioke Samuel (Enyimba FC), Jofrank Joshua (Nasarawa United), Chimobi Igwilo (Rangers Int'l), Alex Oweifaleya (Bendel Insurance), Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme), Habila Simon (Wikki Tourists)