Olympic Eagles release seven for NPFL Matchday 11
Éric Chelle's Olympic Eagles have released seven players from camp for this weekend's NPFL fixtures, with Nasarawa United getting three. Most Matchday 11 games kick off at 16:00 WAT on Sunday 1 November.
By Emily · · Updated
Who was released?
Nigeria's Olympic Eagles have released seven players from camp so they can play for their clubs in this weekend's Nigeria Premier Football League fixtures, Punch reported on 1 November. Olympic Eagles media officer Niyi Busari confirmed the move after formal requests from clubs to the Nigeria Football Federation, Punch and Nigeriasoccernet said.
The seven are Utake Emmanuel (Rivers United); Joshua Jofrank, Olughu Onu Chinemerem and Muhammad Muhammad Umar (Nasarawa United); Owelayafa Alex (Bendel Insurance); Samuel Victor Umoh (Sporting Lagos); and Ikechukwu Junior (Ikorodu City). Nasarawa United have three of the seven; the other four clubs have one each.
What are the Sunday fixtures?
Punch says Nasarawa United are third on 17 points from 10 matches, level with Rivers United and Rangers, and can go top for the first time this season if they beat Kano Pillars on Sunday. The NPFL fixture list schedules Kano Pillars v Nasarawa United at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Rivers United v Rangers at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Kwara United v Bendel Insurance, Katsina United v Sporting Lagos, Shooting Stars v Abia Warriors, Enyimba v Kun Khalifat, Plateau United v Warri Wolves and Inter Lagos v Ranchers Bees for 16:00 on 1 November. Our earlier preview covered the Rivers–Rangers top-three meeting in detail.
Doma United drew 2-2 with Ikorodu City on 31 October and Niger Tornadoes drew 0-0 with Barau on 30 October, according to the NPFL results board, so some Matchday 11 ties have already been played. Ikechukwu Junior returns to Ikorodu City after that midweek draw; Utake Emmanuel returns to Rivers for the Rangers match.
What comes next for Chelle's squad?
The remaining camp continues in Ijebu Ode and Ikenne. Punch says the Olympic Eagles drew 0-0 with Remo Stars in a warm-up at Remo Stars Stadium, with Aderemi Adeoye of Ikorodu City captaining a home-based side. Abdulmuiz Adeleke was denied twice by Remo Stars goalkeeper Emmanuel Olisa, Punch reported, and Taiwo Cole forced a late save from Michael Atata. Chelle is expected to add foreign-based professionals before the first leg against DR Congo.
AllNigeriaSoccer reports two closed training sessions of two hours each at Remo Stars Stadium on Thursday and a 31-man home-based camp list of four goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders and ten forwards. The first leg is listed for 13 November in Lubumbashi and the return for 17 November at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne. Punch and Nigeriasoccernet describe those legs as part of the Olympic qualifying path; AllNigeriaSoccer describes the same dates as U-23 AFCON qualifying for Egypt. The winner over two legs progresses in that pathway.
TuSport desk: seven names, three clubs in the Sunday title band
Punch, Nigeriasoccernet and AllNigeriaSoccer list the same seven players and the same five clubs. Nasarawa United account for three of the seven (Joshua Jofrank, Olughu Onu Chinemerem, Muhammad Muhammad Umar). Rivers United, Bendel Insurance, Sporting Lagos and Ikorodu City each get one.
Punch places Nasarawa third on 17 points from 10 matches, level with Rivers United and Rangers, and says the Solid Miners can go top for the first time this season if they beat Kano Pillars on Sunday. That lines up with our Matchday 11 preview: Rivers United host Rangers in the other top-three clash, also at 16:00 WAT on Sunday 1 November.
The competition label for the November DR Congo tie is not identical across outlets. Punch and Nigeriasoccernet frame the 13 and 17 November legs as the Olympic path, with the return at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne. AllNigeriaSoccer uses the same dates and venue but calls it U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying for Egypt. We keep both labels attributed and do not invent a single official name. AllNigeriaSoccer also says Chelle has 31 home-based players in camp (4 GK, 9 DF, 8 MF, 10 FW) and that the side held two closed two-hour sessions at Remo Stars Stadium on Thursday.
Why it matters
Three clubs in the NPFL top-three band get at least one player back for Sunday. Follow the league on our NPFL hub and Nigeria page, read the NPFL guide, and see our Matchday 11 Rivers v Rangers preview plus the Oliseh Super Eagles critique.
Sources: Punch Newspapers — Chelle releases seven Olympic Eagles to NPFL clubs · Nigeria Soccernet — Olympic Eagles Release Seven Players for NPFL Weekend Fixtures · AllNigeriaSoccer — Olympic Eagles camp update: Seven NPFL players released for club duties · NPFL — Fixtures & Results
