D'Tigers name strong 12-man squad for crucial FIBA World Cup Qualifying window in Tunisia

Nigeria's national basketball team, D'Tigers, is set to regroup in Tunisia for a critical FIBA World Cup Qualifying window. Head coach David Fizdale has selected a 12-man squad for the second round of the 2027 FIBA Men's Basketball World Cup qualifiers, with a place at the global tournament in Qatar as the ultimate goal.

The roster features a blend of established internationals and returning players. Notable inclusions are Chimezie Metu, Josh Okogie, Caleb Agada, Stan Okoye, Chima Moneke, Ike Nwamu, Udoka Azubuike, Efe Abogidi, Ebuka Izundu, Manny Obaseki, Jordan Ogundiran, and Michael Efevberha. The coaching staff includes assistants Dan Craig, Quinton Crawford, former captain Deji Akindele, and Dapo Adegbile.

A significant talking point is the return of forward Chima Moneke. This marks his first official senior international appearance for Nigeria since the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers in February 2021. Although he was included in preliminary squads for major competitions like the Tokyo Olympics, he did not make the final roster and had not played in an official game since.

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The roster features a blend of established internationals and returning players as Nigeria begins the second round of the African qualifying campaign with a place at the World Cup in Qatar firmly in sight.

Nigeria advanced to the second round of African qualifiers after the initial three windows in November 2025, February 2026, and July 2026. This second phase is expected to intensify the pressure, as teams carry their first-round results forward. Nigeria is grouped with Cameroon, South Sudan, Guinea, hosts Tunisia, and Cape Verde. D'Tigers will face Cameroon on August 27, South Sudan on August 28, and Cape Verde on August 30 during the Tunisia window.

In the second round, teams will play the three sides that advanced from the other group across two additional windows in August 2026 and February 2027. The top two teams in each group will secure automatic qualification for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, with the best third-placed team also earning a spot. Five African teams will ultimately qualify for the World Cup in Qatar. D'Tigers' immediate focus is on a strong start in Tunisia to position themselves favorably in the competitive race for World Cup tickets.

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One of the biggest talking points surrounding the squad is the return of Moneke, who is set to make his first appearance for Nigeria in an official senior international match since the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers in February 2021.