Nigeria’s men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, has announced a 12-man squad for the opening window of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African qualifiers, marking a decisive step in the country’s bid to reclaim its continental status after years of turbulence.
Head coach Abdulrahman Mohammed confirmed the roster ahead of the team’s departure to Tunis, where Nigeria will open its Group C campaign on Thursday against hosts Tunisia. The group also includes Rwanda and Guinea, whom D’Tigers will face on November 29 and 30.
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The squad features experienced campaigners such as Stan Okoye, Ike Nwamu, and Talib Zanna, alongside rising domestic and international talents including Olisa Akonobi, Jordan Ogundiran, and Morris Udeze. The blend of youth and experience is seen as a deliberate strategy by the technical crew to stabilize the team and build momentum early in the qualification series.
Full Squad:
Olisa Akonobi, Paul Dibal, Chingka Garba, Morris Udeze, Mike Nuga, Ike Nwamu, Christopher Obekpa, Jordan Ogundiran, Augustine Okafor, Stan Okoye, Ugo Simon, Talib Zanna.
The Nigeria Basketball Federation described the team as “locked and loaded” for the challenge ahead, stressing that this qualification window offers a pivotal opportunity to rebuild confidence and consistency. Nigeria, currently ranked 8th in Africa, is targeting a return to the global stage after missing the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
The African qualifiers, which run from November 2025 to March 2027, will see 16 Afrobasket teams compete in a rigorous double round-robin format. With only five African tickets available for the World Cup in Doha, D’Tigers face an arduous path: the top three from each first-round group progress to the second phase, where results carry over and only the top two teams from each of the final groups — plus the best third-placed side — secure qualification.
For Nigeria, the mission begins with securing early wins in Tunis to avoid the pressure that derailed previous campaigns. The team’s last World Cup appearance came in 2019, where they exited in the first round, and their failure to qualify for the 2023 edition remains a painful reminder of recent instability.
A strong start in Group C could signal a long-awaited revival for D’Tigers as they look to re-establish themselves among Africa’s basketball elite and return to the world stage in 2027.
