Chelle eyes Liverpool duo Lucky, Adekoya for Olympic Eagles U23 Afcon qualifiers
Olympic Eagles coach Eric Chelle is monitoring Liverpool academy defenders Wellity Lucky and Noah Adekoya ahead of Nigeria's U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against DR Congo in November 2026, according to Score Nigeria.
Adekoya, who joined Liverpool from Burnley in January 2026, has scored once in four Premier League 2 appearances. The 20-year-old and Fulham's Chibuzo Nwoko have both expressed willingness to represent Nigeria—Nwoko already debuted in a recent friendly against Russia.
Lucky, born in Zaragoza, Spain, qualifies for Nigeria through parental lineage but also holds eligibility for Spain and England after residing in England over five years. The 18-year-old has represented England at U15 and U16 levels, received a Spain U17 training invite, and made his Liverpool first-team debut in a Carabao Cup match against Crystal Palace in October 2025. He has featured in seven senior matchday squads this season.
Both defenders face competition for international allegiance—Lucky especially, with three nations vying for his services. Nigeria's pitch: immediate U23 playing time and a pathway to the senior Super Eagles. The qualifiers against DR Congo in November will test whether Chelle can convert interest into commitment.
Will dual-eligibility talents like Lucky choose Nigeria's developmental pathway over established European youth setups?