Nigeria’s national men’s basketball team, the D’Tigers, has officially announced its 12-man squad. This team will compete in the opening window of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African qualifiers. Their campaign begins on Thursday in Tunis.

Head coach Abdulrahman Mohammed confirmed the roster. He spoke ahead of the team’s departure. Preparations are in full swing, he noted. Nigeria is now ready for its first Group C game. They will face host nation Tunisia.

Group C also includes Rwanda and Guinea. D’Tigers will play Rwanda on November 29. They will then face Guinea on November 30.

Key Players and Squad Mix

Former Afrobasket captain Ike Nwamu returns to lead the squad. He brings valuable experience. Nwamu is a key voice within the team. The roster combines overseas-based professionals with talented local players.

Guards Stan Okoye and Mike Nuga are also included. Christopher Obekpa will anchor the paint. He is known for his strong defensive presence.

Coach Mohammed has also selected three domestic players. This move aims to blend international exposure with local competitiveness.

The Full 12-Man Roster

The complete squad list features the following players:

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.

D’Tigers Aim for Reclaiming Status

The Nigeria Basketball Federation expressed confidence in the team. They stated that D’Tigers are “locked and loaded” for the qualifiers. This window offers a crucial opportunity. It allows D’Tigers to reclaim their past status. The team has faced several disappointing campaigns recently.

Road to the 2027 World Cup

This qualification series spans from November 2025 to March 2027. Sixteen teams are participating. These are the teams that reached Afrobasket 2025. They are divided into four groups of four. Each group will play a double-round-robin format. The top three teams from each group will advance to the second round.

Nigeria currently ranks eighth in Africa by FIBA. The path to the World Cup is challenging. In the second phase, the remaining 12 teams form two groups of six. Their results from the first round will be carried over. Each team will play six more matches.

Ultimately, only the top two teams from each group will secure a World Cup ticket. The best third-placed team will also qualify. The 2027 FIBA World Cup will be held in Doha.

Determined Start in Tunis

D’Tigers are heading into the Tunis window with strong determination. They aim for a powerful start to their campaign. Nigeria last participated in the World Cup in 2019. However, they exited in the first round. The team failed to qualify for the 2023 tournament. That event was hosted by the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia.