Nigeria has unveiled D’Tigers 12-man roster for the opening window of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African qualifiers, as D’Tigers get set to begin their campaign on Thursday in Tunis.
Head coach Abdulrahman Mohammed confirmed the squad ahead of the team’s departure, with Nigeria scheduled to face hosts Tunisia in their first Group C fixture.
The group also features Rwanda and Guinea, with those games slated for November 29 and 30, respectively.
Former Afrobasket captain Ike Nwamu headlines the squad, returning as one of the most experienced players in the team.
He is joined by guards Stan Okoye and Mike Nuga, while Christopher Obekpa, renowned for his shot-blocking and defensive presence, anchors the frontcourt.
In a bid to blend international experience with local talent, Mohammed has included three home-based players, underlining his commitment to fostering domestic competition.
D’Tigers Full 12-Man Roster
Olisa Akonobi
Paul Dibal
Chingka Garba
Morris Udeze
Mike Nuga
Ike Nwamu
Christopher Obekpa
Jordan Ogundiran
Augustine Okafor
Stan Okoye
Ugo Simon
Talib Zanna
According to the Nigeria Basketball Federation, the team is “locked and loaded” for the opening window, with expectations high as Nigeria aims to reassert itself on the continent after inconsistent campaigns in recent years.
Qualification Format
The African qualifiers, running from November 2025 to March 2027, feature 16 teams divided into four groups of four.
The top three teams from each group will advance to the second round.
Nigeria, currently ranked eighth in Africa by FIBA, must navigate a demanding qualification route that will produce only five World Cup representatives from the continent.
In the second round, 12 teams will be regrouped into two pools of six, carrying over their first-round results.
D’Tigers will play six more games, with the top two from each pool and the best third-placed side earning tickets to the 2027 World Cup in Doha.
D’Tigers last reached the World Cup finals in 2019 but failed to qualify for the 2023 edition co-hosted by the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia.
The team opens its latest qualification journey in Tunis with hopes of starting strong and rebuilding momentum.
