SNOW TV NEWS DESK
Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles will continue their preparations for the 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifiers with a friendly encounter against Grassrunners Academy on Thursday, November 5.
The match will provide another opportunity for the technical crew to assess players, test different tactical options, and identify the squad members who are ready for the crucial qualifying fixtures against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).
The encounter will be the team’s second friendly since setting up camp in Ikenne, Ogun State, as preparations intensify for the second qualifying round.
The Olympic Eagles played their first warm-up game against the Nigeria National League side Remo Stars, with both teams settling for a goalless draw.
Head coach Éric Chelle is expected to use Thursday’s fixture to further evaluate his available players before trimming down the number of footballers in camp to a more manageable squad.
The coaching staff will also be looking to improve the team’s attacking performance after failing to find the back of the net in their opening friendly.
Meanwhile, foreign-based players invited for the qualifiers are expected to begin arriving in camp this weekend, providing the technical crew with additional options ahead of the important double-header.
Nigeria will travel to Lubumbashi, DR Congo, for the first leg of the second-round qualifier on Friday, November 13. The return leg is scheduled to take place four days later, on November 17, at the Remo Stars Sports Complex in Ikenne.
With a place in the next stage of the qualifying campaign at stake, the Olympic Eagles will be hoping to use their remaining preparation matches to build understanding, improve their attacking coordination, and establish a settled team before facing the Congolese side.
The two-legged contest represents an important test for Nigeria’s U-23 team as they pursue qualification for the 2027 continental championship.
“Sir Bartholomew White Ebe is a Lagos-based media personality, Music Artist, Producer, and a Relationship Coach and independent journalist. With over seven years of experience tracking political developments and cultural shifts in Nigeria, he specializes in local current affairs, grassroots politics, and community-driven reporting across Lagos State. As the founder and chief editor of Snow Multimedia Connect {SNOW TV}, he leads the editorial team to deliver verified, high-impact stories to digital audiences.”
Email: snowmediaconnect@gmail.com
