Nigeria unveil a 12-man squad as D’Tigers begin their 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers in Tunis, led by Ike Nwamu and a mix of home-based talent.
Nigeria’s head coach, Abdulrahman Mohammed, on Monday in Abuja confirmed a 12-man roster for the first window of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African qualifiers, as the country begin preparations to face Tunisia on Thursday in Tunis.
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The announcement marks the official start of the campaign as Nigeria unveil 12-man squad for a demanding qualifying journey.
Nigeria will open their Group C fixtures against the hosts before facing Rwanda on Friday and Guinea on Saturday.
Mohammed said the squad was selected to balance overseas experience with the hunger and competitive edge of home-based players.
Former Afrobasket captain Ike Nwamu leads the roster as one of the team’s most experienced figures.
He is joined by guards Stan Okoye and Mike Nuga, while Christopher Obekpa, noted for his shot-blocking reliability, anchors the frontcourt.
Mohammed has included three home-based players, signalling an intention to broaden opportunity and spark renewed internal competition.
The full squad comprises 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.
The Nigeria Basketball Federation said the team is “locked and loaded” for the window, describing it as an essential moment to reassert national strength after inconsistent campaigns.
The federation noted that the qualifiers are unforgiving, with only five African teams eventually securing places at the World Cup in Doha.
The African qualifiers will run from November 2025 to March 2027.
Sixteen Afrobasket teams are divided into four groups of four playing a double round-robin, with the top three advancing.
In the second phase, results will be carried over into two new groups of six, with only the top two in each and the best third-placed team progressing to the finals.
Nigeria, ranked eighth on FIBA’s African power list, aim to make a forceful start in Tunis.
The team last reached the World Cup in 2019 but failed to qualify for the 2023 edition hosted by the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
Mohammed said the new campaign demands focus, resilience and a renewed competitive edge.
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D’Tigers, FIBA World Cup, Nigeria Basketball Federation, Abdulrahman Mohammed, Nigerian sports.
Peculiar Adirika is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
