Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, have arrived in Angola ahead of the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket tournament, which begins on Tuesday,
The team’s final 12-player squad for the tournament was released on Saturday, before embarking on the trip to Luanda for the competition scheduled for August 12 to 24.
The list includes experienced NBA shooting guard Josh Okogie, who plies his trade with Western Conference team Houston Rockets. Defensive specialist Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, veteran forward Talib Zanna, veteran Stan Okoye, guard Mike Nuga amongst others
Peter Olisemeka was excluded from the continental competition after being declared ineligible.
Leading the team to the 31st edition of the FIBA AfroBasket tournament is head coach Mohammed Abdulrahman, with Deji Akindele and Ikenna Smart forming the rest of the coaching staff, while the duo of experienced Stan Okoye and Ike Nwamu will be the co-captains for the former African champions.
Nigeria are in Group B alongside defending champions and three-time winners Tunisia, Cameroon and Madagascar. The 2015 champions will begin their campaign with an opening fixture against Madagascar on August 13, before taking on the reigning champions Tunisia on August 15.
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The team will then conclude the round-robin phase with a fixture against Cameroon on August 17.
The competition’s knockout rounds will begin on August 18 and conclude with the final, which will be played at the Pavilhão Multiusos de Luanda on August 24.
D’Tigers are bidding to win their second continental title in their history, since they last claimed the trophy 10 years ago.
The previous edition in 2021 saw Nigeria suffer an upset defeat to Uganda in the pre-quarter-final stages.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
