As preparations intensify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games qualifiers between Nigeria’s U23 national football team and their DR Congo counterpart, the technical crew of the Nigerian team has announced the names of the seven Nigeria Profe Football League (NPFL) players who made the final 23-man list, as 17 were dropped.

Recall that 31 players home-based across various NPFL club sides were initially invited to the camp at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne to battle for shirts and proved their mettle to team handlers handled by Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle.

The seven players who made the list are Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City), Atata Michael (Ikorodu City), Clinton Andy (Rivers United), Muiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme), Odinaka Alfred (Nasarawa United), Ochobi Elias (Rivers United) and Sugau Aliyu (Barau FC).

Those released and who have since joined their respective clubs are Zachariah Timothy, Igwilo Chimobi, Wonah Williams, Olaniyan Gafar, Shuaibu Sanni, Simeon Habila, Eventus Jude, Zion Hillary, Igboke Keneth and Samuel Okechukwu. Others are Lucky Orabo, Salihu Mohammed, Subi Ebitimi Gift, Harcourt Ebenezer, Alex Oweilayefa, Oputa Chibueze and Freedom Marvellous.

The first leg of the match between Nigeria and DR Congo will be played behind closed doors at the TP Mazembe Stadium, Lubumbashi, on Friday, 13th October, 2026, while the return holds at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) has appointed Ugandan officials for the first leg. They are Duulu Joshua (centre referee), Brianson Musisi (first assistant referee), and Katerega Ashiraf (second assistant referee), while William Oloya is the fourth official. (Nigerian Tribune)