Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles will step up preparations for their 2028 Olympic Games qualifying campaign when they face Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Remo Stars in a friendly encounter on Saturday at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.

The match, scheduled to kick off at 5pm, will provide the national Under-23 team with an opportunity to assess its players, improve team cohesion and fine-tune its tactics ahead of the crucial two-legged qualifying tie against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

Preparations are intensifying under head coach Éric Chelle, who has assembled a 31-man squad, comprising largely home-based players, for the qualification campaign.

Nigeria will travel to Lubumbashi for the first leg against DR Congo on November 13 before hosting the return fixture at the Remo Stars Stadium on November 17.

The winner of the two-legged encounter will progress to the final qualifying round of the 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Egypt, where Africa’s representatives for the men’s football tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games will emerge.

Saturday’s test against Remo Stars is therefore an important opportunity for the technical crew to evaluate the players in a competitive match environment before the demanding continental assignment.

The Olympic Eagles commenced their preparations in Ikenne earlier in the week, with 28 players participating in the opening training session at the Remo Stars Stadium.

The remaining three players — Chimobi Igwilo, Kenneth Igboke and Chibueze Oputa — joined the squad later after featuring for Rangers International in their CAF Champions League engagement against Algeria’s MC Alger.

Their arrival completed the 31-man squad, which comprises four goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders and 10 forwards.

The team draws players from several NPFL clubs, including Rivers United, Nasarawa United, Sporting Lagos, Ikorodu City, Warri Wolves, Enyimba, Bendel Insurance, Rangers International and Wikki Tourists.

The technical crew is expected to use the friendly to assess the players’ match fitness, tactical understanding, defensive organisation and attacking combinations.

Beyond individual performances, the encounter will provide an opportunity for the team to build the coordination and understanding required to compete against DR Congo, particularly with the qualification tie being decided over two legs.

Nigeria secured a bye into the second qualifying round, while DR Congo booked their place after eliminating Mauritania.

The Congolese side will host the first leg at the TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi before travelling to Nigeria for the decisive return fixture.

With the Olympic qualification race gathering momentum, the friendly against Remo Stars represents an important stage in Nigeria’s preparations as the Olympic Eagles pursue a place at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.