Nigeria has announced a 12-man roster for the opening window of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African qualifiers, with D’Tigers set to begin their campaign on Thursday in Tunis.
Coach Abdulrahman Mohammed confirmed the squad ahead of the team’s departure, as Nigeria prepares for a challenging Group C that features hosts Tunisia, Rwanda, and Guinea. The team opens against Tunisia on Thursday, before facing Rwanda and Guinea on November 29 and 30.
Former Afrobasket captain Ike Nwamu headlines the squad, returning as one of the team’s most experienced and reliable leaders. Veteran guard Stan Okoye and explosive shooter Mike Nuga also make the list, while defensive anchor Christopher Obekpa brings size, rim protection and stability to the frontcourt.
In a notable move, Coach Mohammed included three home-based players, signalling a deliberate balance between overseas quality and domestic hunger — a blend the team hopes will spark a strong start to their qualifying journey.
Full 12-Man Squad
- 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 squad is “locked and loaded” for the first qualifying window, with optimism building around the team’s attempt to reclaim its dominance on the continent after years of inconsistent performances.
The African qualifiers, which run from November 2025 to March 2027, feature the 16 teams that reached Afrobasket 2025. They are divided into four groups of four in a double round-robin format. The top three teams in each group progress to the second round.
Nigeria — currently ranked eighth in Africa — will need to navigate a tough qualification structure. In the second phase, the 12 surviving teams will be split into two groups of six, with first-round results carried over. Teams will then play six additional games, and only five African teams will ultimately qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Doha.
D’Tigers last appeared at the World Cup in 2019, exiting in the first round, and failed to qualify for the 2023 edition held in Asia. The team now heads to Tunis determined to make a statement and build early momentum in what promises to be a long, gruelling campaign.