The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has unveiled a 17-man provisional squad for the senior men’s national basketball team, D’Tigers, ahead of the 2025 FIBA Afrobasket tournament scheduled to take place in Angola from August 12 to 24.
Leading the list is NBA star and Houston Rockets’ latest addition, Josh Okogie, who makes a much-anticipated return to the national team. Okogie last featured for Nigeria at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Also included is Caleb Agada, a standout performer in the Basketball Africa League (BAL), where he helped Libyan club Al Ahli Tripoli clinch the 2025 title. The experienced duo of Ike Nwamu and Talib Zanna are back in the fold, alongside Mike Nuga.
Local talents Peter Olisemeka and Devine Eke, who impressed in the recent BAL season representing Rivers Hoopers and Senegal’s ASCVD respectively, have been handed call-ups, underlining the NBBF’s commitment to rewarding form and domestic contributions.
Other players on the roster include Kareem Joseph, Wesley Iwundu, Ugochukwu Simon, Stanley Okoye, Folabomi Fayemi, Emmanuel Omogbo, Christian Mekowulu, Martins Igbanu, Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, and Jekiri Tonye.
Notably absent is veteran forward Chimezie Metu, who is recovering from a long-term injury.
This marks the first D’Tigers squad announcement since the team’s unsuccessful run at the FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Lagos in August 2023.
Preparations for Afrobasket will begin with a training camp set to open next week. The squad will later be trimmed to a final 12-man team that will represent Nigeria in Angola.
Drawn into Group B, Nigeria faces a tough group that includes defending champions Tunisia, Cameroon, and Madagascar. D’Tigers will kick off their campaign against Madagascar on August 13, before clashing with Tunisia on August 15 and Cameroon on August 17.
The knockout rounds are scheduled to begin on August 18, with the final slated for August 24 at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda. D’Tigers are seeking to reclaim the continental title they last won in 2015.
