The 11 home-based players invited for D’Tigers’ next phase of the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket qualifiers will begin training in Abuja on Monday (today), with foreign-based players set to join them later, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has confirmed.
The NBBF announced a 24-man preliminary roster for the third phase of the qualifiers, scheduled to take place in Tripoli, Libya, from February 17 to 24. Training will be conducted in two phases:
Phase 1: Home-based players report to camp at Bentley Hotel, Abuja, from February 10-16.
Phase 2: Selected home-based players will join their foreign-based teammates in Tripoli, Libya, on February 17 for the final preparation phase before the competition.
D’Tigers will once again be led by head coach, Abdulrahman Mohammed, who was in charge during the first qualification window. He will be assisted by:
- Deji Akindele – Former Nigerian international
- Isikaku Smart – Assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers (NBA)
Nigeria currently sits at the bottom of Group B after losing all three matches in the previous round of qualifiers last year. The top three teams from the group will advance to the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket tournament in Angola.
D’Tigers’ Preliminary 24-Man Roster
Home-Based Players:
✅ Okiki Michael (Rivers Hoopers, Nigeria)
✅ Sulaimon Azeez (Hoops & Reads, Nigeria)
✅ Rayyan AR Salis (Gboko City Chiefs, Nigeria)
✅ Patrick Abah (Royal Hoopers, Nigeria)
✅ Abel Offia (Rivers Hoopers, Nigeria)
✅ Wisdom Anyaoha (Gboko City Chiefs, Nigeria)
✅ Kareem Joseph (Hoops & Reads, Nigeria)
✅ Ifeanyi Koko (Rivers Hoopers, Nigeria)
✅ Ibe Agu (Customs, Nigeria)
✅ Vincent Buchi (Rivers Hoopers, Nigeria)
✅ Clinton Osabuohein Best (Hoops & Reads, Nigeria)
Foreign-Based Players:
✅ Zaid Hearst (Zamora, Spain)
✅ Mike Nuga (Valmiera Glass, Latvia)
✅ Ike Nwamu (Team Captain) (CCMB, France)
✅ Caleb Agada (Avtador, Russia)
✅ Ugochukwu Simon (Virtus Ragusa, Italy)
✅ Martins Igbanu (Niigata Albirex BB, Japan)
✅ Abdul Malik Abu (Arriva P. Cukier, Poland)
✅ Christian Mekowulu (Akita Northern Happinets, Japan)
✅ Talib Zanna (KK Cibona, Croatia)
✅ Bassey Effiong (Spinet Knight, Ghana)
✅ Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu (Pallacanestro Varese, Italy)
✅ Jason Jitoboh (Vellaznimi, Kosovo)
✅ John Egbunu (Breogan, Spain)
D’Tigers will be looking to bounce back and secure a place in AfroBasket 2025.
