Chelle Plans U23 Overhaul Ahead of 2028 Olympic Qualifiers
Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle is preparing to widen the pool of players available to Nigeria’s U23 national team, with about 10 young talents based in Europe and other foreign leagues expected to be considered ahead of the 2028 Olympic qualifying campaign, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
Chelle, who also oversees the U23 side, is expected to use Nigeria’s proposed international friendly against Russia on October 6 as an important opportunity to assess several players who could form the backbone of the Olympic team.
Nigeria have a proud history in Olympic men’s football, winning the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games before claiming silver at Beijing 2008.
The Franco-Malian coach has reportedly already identified a number of young players he wants to assess, with talents competing in different leagues across Europe and beyond featuring on his list.
Among those being considered are FC Alverca left-back Isaac James, Saudi Arabia-based striker George Ilenikhena, Sabah winger Christian Nwachukwu and KV Mechelen forward Ayodele Adeshina.
The Russia fixture could therefore serve a dual purpose for Chelle, allowing him to assess the younger players while also beginning preparations for the U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The U23 AFCON qualifiers are particularly important because the tournament provides the route through which African teams can secure places at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Nigeria are expected to have separate priorities during the forthcoming international window. While the senior Super Eagles concentrate on their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, the younger players could form the core of the squad for the Russia friendly.
Chelle is expected to return to Nigeria as preparations for the AFCON qualifiers gather pace, but work on identifying eligible U23 players is already continuing behind the scenes.
Sources close to the team indicate that the coaching staff have been monitoring several promising Nigerian players at clubs across Europe and other foreign leagues as they seek to create a strong pool of options for the Olympic qualifying campaign.
The coach is also expected to extend his search to the domestic league, with plans to attend selected NPFL matches in the coming weeks.
The move would give young players in Nigeria’s top flight an opportunity to attract the attention of the national team handlers, alongside their counterparts playing abroad.
Chelle’s approach is expected to create a broader pathway into the U23 setup and help Nigeria build a competitive squad capable of challenging for qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games.
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