Nigeria U23 national team, the Olympic Eagles, on Tuesday began preparations for next month’s U23 AFCON qualifiers against DR Congo, www.aclsports.com reports.
Head coach Eric Chelle led the Super Eagles’ first training session on Tuesday at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, with 28 players taking part. Rangers trio Chimobi Igwilo, Kenneth Igboke and Chibueze Oputa were excused from the session following their arrival from Algeria, where they featured against MC Alger in the CAF Champions League.
The Eagles have assembled in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, where they are staying at AM2PM Hotel. The team will train at the Remo Stars Stadium, which is also expected to host the return leg of the qualifiers.
The session began with stretching and muscle-relaxing exercises before the players moved on to light ball work, including passing drills and small-sided games, despite the rainy conditions on Tuesday evening.
Twenty-eight players started the season, including the four goalkeepers: Chinemerem Olughu, Clinton Andy, Ebenezer Harcourt, and Michael Atata, who were first trained separately by the goalkeepers’ trainer, Olatunji Baruwa.
The team will train twice on Wednesday (7:30am in the Morning and 5pm in the evening) at the same venue.
31 PLAYERS IN CAMP
Goalkeepers
Chinemerem Olughu — Nasarawa United
Clinton Andy — Rivers United
Ebenezer Harcourt — Sporting Lagos
Michael Atata — Ikorodu City
Defenders
Gift Subi — Warri Wolves
Hillary Zion — Sporting Lagos
Emmanuel Utake — Rivers United
Marvelous Freedom — Ikorodu City
Odinaka Alfred — Nasarawa United
Emmanuel Ochobi — Rivers United
Aliu Sugau — Barau FC
Kenneth Igboke — Rangers International
Chibueze Oputa — Rangers International
Midfielders
Freeman Wuchirwe — Bendel Insurance
Victor Samuel — Sporting Lagos
Umar Mohammed — Nasarawa United
Lucky Oraro — Warri Wolves
Aderemi Adeoye — Ikorodu City
Sani Shuaibu — Warri Wolves
Muhammad Salihu — Sporting Lagos
Jude Eventus — Warri Wolves
Forwards
Junior Ikechukwu — Ikorodu City
Timothy Zechariah — Rivers United
Williams Wonah — Enyimba FC
Ayoola Olaniyan — Sporting Lagos
Chijioke Samuel — Enyimba FC
Jofrank Joshua — Nasarawa United
Alex Oweifaleya — Bendel Insurance
Abdulmuiz Adeleke — Sporting Supreme
Habila Simon — Wikki Tourists
Chimobi Igwilo — Rangers International
