Olympic Qualifier: Chelle names Atata, Daga, Adeleke in 23-man roster for DR Congo

Eric Chelle

Head Coach Èric Chelle has included goalkeeper Michael Atata, midfielder Daniel Daga and exciting junior international Abdulmuiz Adeleke in his list of 23 players for this month’s U23 AFCON qualifying home-and-away battle with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Atata, who has been called to the Super Eagles on a number of occasions, will contend with SJK FC’s Samuel James and fellow home-boy Clinton Andy for the number one jersey as Nigeria seek a place in the finals to be staged in Egypt in a year’s time, and from where Africa’s representatives to the 2028 Olympics Men’s Football Tournament will emerge.

There are also defenders Victory Akpe, Vince Osuji and Emmanuel Ochobi, midfielders Chibuzor Nwoko and Aderemi Adeoye, and forwards Peter Edokpolor, Zadok Yohanna and Umar Abubakar.

The seven players on the roster who play their club football in Nigeria will depart the country on Tuesday, ahead of the first leg of the fixture scheduled for the Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi on Friday, 13 November. The return leg will hold at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne-Remo on Tuesday, 17 November.

23 PLAYERS FOR BIG BATTLES WITH DR CONGO:

Goalkeepers: Samuel James (SJK FC, Finland); Clinton Andy (Rivers United), and 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), and 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), and 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), and Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme)