Head Coach Names 12-Man D’Tigers Squad For World Cup Qualifiers

Head Coach Names 12-Man D’Tigers Squad For World Cup Qualifiers

By Our Reporter 

D’Tigers head coach David Fizdale has named a 12-man roster for Nigeria’s fourth window of the 2027 FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup African qualifiers, with the team set to regroup in Tunisia later this month, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The squad features Chimezie Metu, Josh Okogie, Caleb Agada, Stan Okoye, Chima Moneke, Ike Nwamu, Udoka Azubuike, Efe Abogidi, Ebuka Izundu, Manny Obaseki, Jordan Ogundiran and Michael Efevberha.

Fizdale will be supported by Dan Craig, Quinton Crawford, Deji Akindele and Dapo Adegbile on the coaching staff.

One of the major talking points is the return of Moneke, who is set to make his first appearance for Nigeria in an official senior international match since the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers in February 2021.

The forward was subsequently included in preliminary squads for major competitions, including the Tokyo Olympics, but failed to make the final roster and has not featured in an official D’Tigers game since.

Nigeria advanced to the second round of the African qualifiers after the first three windows, held in November 2025, February 2026 and July 2026.

The results from the opening phase will carry over into the second round, increasing the importance of every fixture as teams battle for places at the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar.

The second round consists of two additional windows, scheduled for August 2026 and February 2027. Each team will face the three sides that advanced from the other group.

At the conclusion of the six additional games, the top two teams in each group, as well as the best third-placed team, will earn qualification for the World Cup.

Nigeria are in a group featuring Cameroon, South Sudan, Guinea, Tunisia and Cape Verde.

D’Tigers will open their campaign in the upcoming window against Cameroon on August 27 before facing South Sudan on August 28. They will conclude the window against Cape Verde on August 30.

The final qualifying window is scheduled for February 2027, with five African teams ultimately securing places at the World Cup in Qatar.