Chelle Hands Olympic Eagles to Assistants as Super Eagles Fixtures Clash with U-23 AFCON Qualifiers
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle will not lead the Olympic Eagles in their two-legged 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo because of a clash in match dates.
Chelle will be with the senior national team as the Super Eagles face Tanzania in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Sources within the national team camp told NationSport that Chelle has handed responsibility for the Olympic Eagles to his assistants, Deniran Ortega and Bright Osehai Ozebagbe.
Nigeria will travel to Lubumbashi for the first leg against DR Congo on November 13, the same day the Super Eagles host Tanzania at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
The second leg will take place on November 17 at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State. However, the Super Eagles will also be in action that day, playing the return leg against Tanzania away from home.
Ozebagbe is the Technical Adviser of NPFL side Ikorodu City, while Ortega is also an assistant coach with the Flying Eagles.
Goalkeeper trainer Olatunji Baruwa has also been asked to remain with the Olympic Eagles. Baruwa works with both the senior and U-23 national teams and is also the goalkeeper coach of Nasarawa United.
Meanwhile, preparations for the DR Congo encounter are continuing in Ikenne, with about 13 foreign-based players expected to join the team from Sunday.
The arrival of Bawa Prince of Nasarawa United and Ayodeji Abayomi of Ikorodu City has increased the number of players in camp to 25.
The players took part in morning and evening training sessions on Tuesday, with the technical crew focusing on their tactical and technical organisation.
The Olympic Eagles are also expected to continue preparations without another friendly match before travelling to DR Congo. Their only warm-up game so far was a goalless draw against Remo Stars last week.
Nigeria will be hoping to overcome DR Congo and secure a place at the 2027 U-23 AFCON in Egypt. The competition will also serve as Africa’s qualifying tournament for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
