D’Tigers intensify AfroBasket preparations News

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D’Tigers intensify AfroBasket preparations

By Daily Sports Nigeria on August 6, 2025

The camp of the Nigerian senior men’s national team, D’Tigers, is expected to witness the arrivals of more players from the provisional roster, as preparations for the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket continue, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation had earlier released a preliminary roster comprising 12 players, which is headlined by new Houston Rockets’ acquisition Josh Okogie and 2025 BAL champion Caleb Agada, while Ike Nwamu, Mike Nuga, Talib Zanna, Peter Olisemeka, Devine Eke, Kareem Joseph, Wesley Iwundu, Ugochukwu Simon, Stanley Okoye, Folabomi Fayemi, Emmanuel Omogbo, Christian Mekowulu, Martins Igbanu, Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, and Jekiri Tonye all complete the list.

With camping now having commenced officially earlier this week in Abuja, just nine players from the provisional list have arrived. Amongst the early arrivals are Stan Okoye, Talib Zanna, Mike Nuga, Christian Mekowulu, Devine Eke, Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, Martins Igbanu, and Andrew Ugo Simon.

However, more members of the team are expected to hit camp as the team tries to build cohesion and chemistry before their first game of the tournament on August 13, which is only one week away.

Leading the team to the quadrennial showpiece is head coach Mohammed Abdulrahman, and he will be looking to put up a better outing than in the previous edition in 2021, where Nigeria suffered a shock loss to Uganda in the pre-quarter-finals stages.

The 31st edition of the FIBA Men’s AfroBasket tournament is scheduled to be held in Angola from August 12 to 24 and will feature 16 countries.

The D’Tigers have been pitted in Group B alongside defending champions and three-time winners Tunisia, Cameroon and Madagascar.

The West Africans will begin their campaign with an opening fixture against Madagascar on August 13, before taking on the reigning champions Tunisia two days later. The team will then face Cameroon in their final round-robin game on August 17.

The knockout rounds will tip off on August 18 and conclude with the final, which will be played at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda on August 24.

Luanda and Namibe are the two venues that will play host to the FIBA AfroBasket tournament. The Southern city of Namibe will host only the group phase games, while the capital, Luanda, will stage some group games and the final phase match-ups.

Source Punch Ng

Posted August 6, 2025