Ortega to lead Olympic Eagles vs DR Congo as Chelle handles Super Eagles

Deniran Ortega will coach Nigeria's Olympic Eagles for their 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations second-round qualifier against DR Congo while head coach Éric Chelle manages the Super Eagles' concurrent AFCON ties against Tanzania. The scheduling conflict forces the split: Olympic Eagles travel to Lubumbashi for the first leg on Friday, November 13, the same day Super Eagles host Tanzania at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. The return leg at Remo Stars Sports Complex in Ikenne also clashes with Super Eagles' Matchday Four fixture against the Taifa Stars.

Ortega, a UEFA-licensed coach and the team's first assistant, will be backed by the remaining backroom staff as the Olympic Eagles chase a positive result in Lubumbashi to advance in the qualifying campaign. Chelle's dual role creates an unusual test for Nigeria's coaching setup across both age grades.

The Olympic Eagles need at least a draw away to keep the tie alive for the home leg in Ikenne. DR Congo's home advantage in Lubumbashi is formidable—Nigeria's youth sides have historically struggled there. For fans tracking both teams, the parallel fixtures mean split attention: Super Eagles' AFCON qualification push in Uyo versus Olympic Eagles' U-23 continental ambitions in DRC and Ogun State.

Which fixture matters more for Nigerian football's long-term pipeline: the senior team's AFCON ticket or the U-23s' Olympic pathway?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/11/05/2027-u-23-afconq-ortega-to-lead-olympic-eagles-in-chelles-absence/