Nigeria’s men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, are expected back in the country today (Monday) after their campaign at the 31st FIBA AfroBasket tournament in Angola, which ran from August 12 to 24.
Led by coach Mohammed Abdulrahman, the team exited the competition last Wednesday following a 91-75 defeat to rivals Senegal in the quarter-finals.
However, the squad remained in Angola after the loss because their return tickets had been booked for Monday, August 25.
Some senior players and officials had reportedly asked the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) to adjust the travel dates, but the requests were turned down.
As a result, a few players, including Houston Rockets guard Josh Okogie, purchased their own tickets to return to their respective bases earlier.
Despite the quarter-final exit, D’Tigers impressed in the group stage, topping Group B with victories over Madagascar, three-time champions Tunisia, and Cameroon.
Caleb Agada, Josh Okogie, Stan Okoye, and Ike Nwamu were standout performers during the campaign.
The team’s focus now shifts to the FIBA Men’s World Cup Qualifiers starting in November, where they will aim to secure a spot at the 2027 edition in Qatar.
Nigeria last featured at the World Cup in 2019 in China, having missed out on the 2023 edition.