D’Tigers, Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team are set to return home today, Monday, August 25. Following their participation in the 31st FIBA AfroBasket Championship held in Angola from August 12 to 24. The team’s journey came to an end in the quarter-finals, where they suffered a 91-75 loss to continental rivals Senegal.
Although they were eliminated last Wednesday, the squad remained in Angola because their tickets were scheduled for departure on Monday. According to reports, some senior players appealed to the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) for earlier flights. The requests were declined. As a result, a few players, including NBA guard Josh Okogie of the Houston Rockets, had to purchase personal tickets to return to their respective bases before the official date.
Before the quarter-final defeat, D’Tigers impressed during the group stage. They finished top of Group B with six points, securing victories against Madagascar, three-time champions Tunisia, and Cameroon. Standout performances from Caleb Agada, Okogie, Stan Okoye, and Ike Nwamu highlighted the team’s attacking strength and competitive edge, even though their campaign ended earlier than anticipated.
With AfroBasket now behind them, D’Tigers will shift their focus to the FIBA Men’s World Cup Qualifiers starting in November. These qualifiers present a crucial opportunity for Nigeria to book a place at the 2027 World Cup in Qatar, after missing out on the 2023 edition. The team is determined to use their recent experience to mount a stronger challenge.
Nigeria last appeared at the global stage in 2019 in China under former head coach Alex Nwora. Now under the guidance of Coach Mohammed Abdulrahman. The squad aims to build on lessons learned in Angola and restore Nigeria’s status among the world’s basketball elite.
