Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, arrived in Angola on Sunday ahead of the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket tournament, which tips off on Tuesday, August 12.
The final 12-man roster for the tournament was confirmed on Saturday, just before the team departed for Luanda, where the 31st edition of the continental championship will run from August 12 to 24.
Among the standout names on the roster is NBA shooting guard Josh Okogie, who represents the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference. Also making the squad are defensive specialist Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, veteran forward Talib Zanna, co-captain Stan Okoye, and guard Mike Nuga.
The team is rounded out by forward Devine Eke, center Christian Mekowulu, power forward Martins Igbanu, guard Ugo Andrew Simon, forward Emmanuel Omogbo, co-captain Ike Nwamu, and playmaker Caleb Agada.
However, Fola Fayemi, Kareem Joseph, and Mohamed AbdulSalam were dropped from the provisional squad. Meanwhile, Peter Olisemeka was ruled ineligible for the tournament and did not make the final cut.
The team will be led by head coach Mohammed Abdulrahman, with Deji Akindele and Ikenna Smart serving as assistant coaches. Leadership on the court will come from co-captains Stan Okoye and Ike Nwamu.
Drawn in Group B, Nigeria will face tough competition against defending champions Tunisia, Cameroon, and Madagascar. The 2015 AfroBasket champions will open their campaign against Madagascar on August 13, followed by a crucial tie against Tunisia on August 15, and will wrap up the group phase against Cameroon on August 17.
The knockout stage of the tournament begins on August 18, with the final set to be held at the Pavilhão Multiusos de Luanda on August 24.
D’Tigers will be aiming to reclaim continental glory, a decade after winning their first and only AfroBasket title in 2015. In the last edition held in 2021, Nigeria suffered a shock exit in the pre-quarterfinals at the hands of Uganda.