Nigeria’s U23 national team, the Olympic Eagles, have begun preparations in Lubumbashi ahead of Friday’s first-leg encounter against DR Congo in the qualifying campaign for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The Nigerian delegation left the country on Tuesday night and arrived in the Congolese city on Wednesday. The players returned to the pitch for their opening training session after taking an hour to rest following their journey.
The session marked the start of the team's final preparations for the first meeting with DR Congo, with the return fixture scheduled for November 17, 2026, at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.
Head coach Eric Chelle had earlier announced a 23-man squad for the double-header, comprising eight players from the domestic league and 15 professionals based abroad.
However, the team has been forced to make a change following the withdrawal of Sulaiman Sani of Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadsiah FC, who was ruled out of the assignment due to injury.
His club reportedly confirmed that the injury would prevent him from responding to the national team invitation, prompting the coaching crew to bring in Nasarawa United forward Prince Bawa Oche as his replacement.
Players who featured in Wednesday's training session
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, 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 FK, Norway), Wilfred George (Kristiansund BK, 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), Bawa Oche (Nasarawa United), Umar Abubakar (FC Famalicão, Portugal), Zadok Yohanna (Brighton FC, England), Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Králové, Czechia), Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme).