Nigeria’s D’Tigers face an uphill battle in the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers after recording two defeats and a single win from their first three group games, leaving them third in Group C with three matches remaining.
The campaign began with an 88-78 overtime loss to hosts Tunisia last Thursday, followed by a 69-55 defeat to Guinea, who secured their first-ever victory over Nigeria.
Nigeria’s sole win came against Rwanda in their most recent game, a 75-69 overtime victory propelled by Morris Udeze’s 30-point performance—the highest by any player in the first window of qualifiers.
Head coach Abdulrahman Mohammed praised Udeze’s impact, saying: “I don’t want to take credit away from the other guys, but if he wasn’t here, I don’t know where we would have been. We gave him a role, and he embraced it. He’s the most committed and dedicated player I have ever coached. Every time he is on the floor, he gives everything he’s got. He’s been fantastic.”
Despite the shaky start, Nigeria aims to hold onto their third-place spot in the group during the next window, which would be enough to advance to the second round. The top three teams from each group progress, carrying forward first-round results, with only the top two in each group and the best third-placed team earning World Cup qualification.
Currently ranked eighth in FIBA Africa, Nigeria’s basketball federation sees these qualifiers as key to restoring the D’Tigers’ former continental stature. The team last appeared at the World Cup in 2019 and missed the 2023 edition.
