Nigeria’s men’s national basketball team, D’Tigers, has finalised its 12-man roster for the upcoming 2025 FIBA Men’s AfroBasket Championship in Angola.
Interim head coach Mohammed Abdulrahman will lead the squad, which features a blend of talent from the NBA, seasoned veterans from various leagues, and promising young players.
The team’s standout players include NBA guard Josh Okogie, defensive specialist Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, veteran forward Talib Zanna, versatile winger Stan Okoye, and dynamic guard **Mike Nuga.
Other players confirmed for the tournament are forward Devine Eke, centre Christian Mekowulu, power forward Martins Igbanu, guards Ugo Andrew Simon and Caleb Agada, forward Emmanuel Omogbo, and sharpshooter Ike Nwamu.
The final roster decisions mean that Fola Fayemi, Kareem Joseph, and Mohamed AbdulSalam, who were part of the preliminary squad, will not be travelling with the team. Peter Olisemeka was also excluded due to being declared ineligible to compete.
D’Tigers will compete in Group B, where they’ll face off against Tunisia, Madagascar, and Cameroon. Their tournament begins on August 13 against Madagascar, followed by matches against Tunisia and Cameroon.
The AfroBasket tournament will take place in two cities: Namibe will host some group stage games, while the capital city of Luanda will host the remaining group matches and all knockout rounds.
For Nigeria, this year’s tournament offers a chance at redemption. Their last AfroBasket appearance in 2021 ended in a disappointing loss to Uganda in the pre-quarter-finals. This early exit was a significant setback for a team that had won the championship in 2015 and finished as runners-up in 2017.
Coach Abdulrahman, who took over last year and successfully guided the team through the qualifiers with victories over Libya, Uganda, and Cape Verde, is tasked with restoring Nigeria to its position as a top contender in African basketball.
In their final preparations, the team played two friendly matches against Guinea in Tunisia. They secured a close victory in the first game (78-73) before suffering a narrow defeat in the second (68-65). The squad has now travelled to Angola to continue their training before the tournament begins.
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The 2025 AfroBasket runs from August 13 to August 31. With a balanced team, Nigeria will be aiming to not only advance from their group but also to challenge perennial powerhouses like Angola, Senegal, and the defending champions, Tunisia, for the title.
More than just a tournament, this is an opportunity for Abdulrahman’s D’Tigers to reclaim national pride and prove why Nigeria is considered a basketball powerhouse on the continent.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, met with the players before their departure, encouraging them to play with confidence and bring home the trophy.
