Nigeria's U23 team will face DR Congo in a decisive Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifying tie without their head coach, Eric Chelle. Chelle has shifted his attention to the Super Eagles ahead of their crucial AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Tanzania. He has departed the U23 camp to join the Super Eagles in Uyo, leaving his assistants Bright Ozebagbe and Deniran Ortega to oversee the team's clash against DR Congo.
The qualifiers form part of Nigeria's road to the 2028 Olympic Games. Nigeria's U23 team have a major assignment ahead of them, with victory over DR Congo moving them a step closer to qualifying for next year's Africa U23 Cup of Nations in Egypt. The tournament will determine Africa's representatives at the men's football event of the 2028 Olympic Games.
Chelle's squad includes several highly rated young players, including Daniel Daga, Michael Atata and Abdulmuiz Adeleke. However, with Chelle now focused on reviving the Super Eagles' AFCON qualification hopes, responsibility falls on his assistants to ensure Nigeria's Olympic dream remains alive.
The timing creates an unusual situation for Nigeria, with both the senior team and the U23 side involved in important fixtures on the same dates. Nigeria's U23s will face DR Congo at the Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi on Friday, 13 November, the same day the Super Eagles take on Tanzania in a crucial AFCON 2027 qualifier.
The return leg of the U23 fixture will take place at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on 17 November. Chelle has been spotted in Uyo ahead of the Super Eagles' crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania, just days after naming and preparing the country's U23 squad for their own important fixture against DR Congo.
While Chelle had overseen the selection of the team and preparations for the qualifying campaign, he will not travel with the squad to Lubumbashi. Instead, he will prioritise the senior national team's must-win encounters against Tanzania. This development leaves Nigeria's U23 side to prove they can get the job done without their head coach watching from the touchline.
The situation has raised concerns about the team's ability to perform without their head coach. Nevertheless, Chelle's assistants will be responsible for leading the U23 side through one of their biggest tests in recent years. The Super Eagles' crucial AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Tanzania and Nigeria's U23 side's Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifying clash against DR Congo are set to take place on the same day.
Key points
- Nigeria's U23 team face DR Congo in a decisive Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifying tie without head coach Eric Chelle.
- Eric Chelle has shifted his attention to the Super Eagles ahead of their crucial AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Tanzania.
- The qualifiers form part of Nigeria's road to the 2028 Olympic Games.
