Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has selected Michael Atata, Daniel Daga and junior international Abdulmuiz Adeleke in a 23-man squad for the country’s U23 AFCON qualifying tie against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The two-legged fixture will determine whether Nigeria remain in contention to reach the finals in Egypt next year. The teams that qualify for that tournament will compete for Africa’s places at the 2028 Olympics Men’s Football Tournament.
Atata, who has received several call-ups to the Super Eagles, will challenge SJK FC goalkeeper Samuel James and Clinton Andy for the starting position. Andy plays for Rivers United, while Atata represents Ikorodu City.
The first leg will take place at Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi on Friday, 13th November. The return fixture is scheduled for Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne-Remo, on Tuesday, 17th November.
The seven players on the squad who play their club football in Nigeria are due to leave the country on Tuesday ahead of the opening match.
Chelle’s defensive options include Christian Akpan, Victory Akpe, Vince Osuji, Emmanuel Godwin, Odinaka Alfred, Emmanuel Ochobi and Aliu Sugau.
Akpan plays for Genk FC in Belgium, while Akpe is with FC Basel in Switzerland and Osuji represents Tromsø IL FC in Norway. Godwin is contracted to Pardubice FC in Czechia. Alfred plays for Nasarawa United, Ochobi for Rivers United and Sugau for Barau FC.
Daga, who plays for Molde FC in Norway, is among the midfielders named alongside John Otomewo, Wilfred George, Chibuzor Nwoko, Aderemi Adeoye, Sadiq Saleh and Victor Samuel.
Otomewo plays for Reims FC in France, George for Kristiansund FC in Norway and Nwoko for Fulham FC in England. Adeoye is with Ikorodu City, Saleh with FC Metta in Latvia, and Samuel with Pardubice FC.
The forwards selected are Peter Edokpolor, Sulaiman Sani, Umar Abubakar, Zadok Yohanna, Abdullahi Umar and Adeleke.
Edokpolor plays for SL Benfica in Portugal, Sani for Al-Qadsiah FC in Saudi Arabia and Abubakar for FC Famalicao in Portugal. Yohanna represents Brighton FC in England, Umar plays for Hradec Kralove in Czechia, while Adeleke is with Sporting Supreme.
Nigeria’s 23-man squad
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)