Chelle Leaves U-23 Camp for Super Eagles Duties

…names Yohanna, Daga for Olympic qualifiers

Head coach Èric Chelle has left Nigeria’s U-23 camp. He is now focusing on the Super Eagles’ 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania. This situation highlights the problem of scheduling with his roles in both teams, The PUNCH reports.

Chelle is also in charge of the Olympic Eagles. He will miss their two-legged U-23 AFCON qualifying match against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Assistant coach Deniran Ortega will manage the team while Chelle is away.

The issue comes from both teams playing during the same international window. The Olympic Eagles will play DR Congo in the first leg in Lubumbashi on Friday, November 13. This is also the day the Super Eagles face Tanzania at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. The return match in Ikenne on Tuesday, November 17, also overlaps with the senior team’s second match against the Taifa Stars.

Ortega has been working with the home-based players since the U-23 camp started two weeks ago. He will continue alongside Ikorodu City head coach Bright Ozebagbe as the Olympic Eagles aim to qualify for next year’s tournament in Egypt.

Reports from ACL Sports say Ortega led most of the team’s training sessions on Thursday. He also guided the technical crew during their friendly win over Grassrunners on Friday before the team left for the DR Congo match.

Meanwhile, Chelle has named Brighton forward Zadok Yohanna and Molde FC midfielder Daniel Daga in his 23-man squad for the qualifying match. These two players are seen as key additions to help Nigeria's challenge.

Goalkeeper Michael Atata and junior international Abdulmuiz Adeleke are also on the list. Atata will compete with SJK FC’s Samuel James and home-based Clinton Andy for the starting goalkeeper spot.

Other players included are defenders Victory Akpe, Vince Osuji, and Emmanuel Ochobi. Midfielders Chibuzor Nwoko and Aderemi Adeoye, along with forwards Peter Edokpolor and Umar Abubakar, round out the squad.

The seven home-based players are set to leave Nigeria on Tuesday for the first leg at Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi. The second leg will take place at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on November 17.

Nigeria got a bye in the first qualifying round. They need to beat DR Congo over two legs to reach the final round of the qualifiers. This competition will also decide which teams from Africa will play in the men’s football event at the 2028 Olympic Games.