D’Tigers Set for Tunis Showdown as 12-Man Roster Released

Nigeria has unveiled a 12-man roster for the opening window of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African qualifiers, with D’Tigers set to begin their campaign on Thursday in Tunis.

Coach Abdulrahman Mohammed confirmed the squad ahead of the team’s departure, as Nigeria prepares to face hosts Tunisia in their first Group C matchup. The team will also take on Rwanda and Guinea on November 29 and 30.

Former Afrobasket captain Ike Nwamu headlines the list, returning as one of the squad’s most seasoned players. He is joined by guards Stan Okoye and Mike Nuga, while defensive specialist Christopher Obekpa leads the frontcourt.

Mohammed’s selection includes three home-based players, underscoring his plan to combine international experience with domestic talent and competition.

The full roster features Olisa Akonobi, Paul Dibal, Chingka Garba, Morris Udeze, Mike Nuga, Ike Nwamu, Christopher Obekpa, Jordan Ogundiran, Augustine Okafor, Stan Okoye, Ugo Simon, and Talib Zanna.

According to the Nigeria Basketball Federation, the team is “locked and loaded” for the qualifiers, which present a chance for Nigeria to reclaim its status on the continent after several inconsistent outings.

The African qualifiers will run from November 2025 to March 2027. Sixteen Afrobasket 2025 teams are split into four groups of four, with the top three in each group progressing. Nigeria, ranked eighth in Africa, faces a tough path to secure one of the five World Cup tickets.

In the second phase, 12 teams will be grouped into two pools of six, carrying over all first-round results. Each team will play six additional games, with only the top two sides from each group and the best third-placed team earning qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Doha.

D’Tigers aim to start strong in Tunis as they look to return to the global stage. The team last appeared at the World Cup in 2019 and missed the 2023 edition co-hosted by the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia.