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The Nigeria Basketball Federation has officially released a 17-man provisional roster for the senior men’s national team, D’Tigers, ahead of the 2025 FIBA Afrobasket tournament which will be held in Angola from August 12 to 24 PUNCH Online reports.
Headlining the squad list for the former AfroBasket champions, which was posted on the official X account of the Nigerian Men’s Nat’l Basketball Team on Wednesday, is Houston Rockets’ latest acquisition Josh Okogie, who is making a return to the national team set-up after a few years away.
The ex-Phoenix Suns guard represented Nigeria at the 2019 FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup in China and at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Japan.
Meanwhile, 2025 Basketball Africa League winner Caleb Agada, who plies his trade with Libyan franchise Al Ahli Tripoli, is among the elite players who have been called up.
There is also room for experienced hands including Ike Nwamu, Mike Nuga and Talib Zanna, while Peter Olisemeka and Devine Eke who both featured in this year’s BAL tournament for Rivers Hoopers of Nigeria and ASCVD of Senegal respectively, have earned call-ups to the national team.
Completing the preliminary roster are Kareem Joseph, Wesley Iwundu, Ugochukwu Simon, Stanley Okoye, Folabomi Fayemi, Emmanuel Omogbo, Christian Mekowulu, Martins Igbanu, Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, and Jekiri Tonye, while a notable absentee is experienced veteran Chimezie Metu, who is currently recovering from a long-term injury.
The 2015 continental champions last assembled in August 2023, during the FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Lagos for the Paris 2024 summer Games which Nigeria ultimately failed to qualify for.
The team is expected to begin camping next week as preparations intensify, before the list is pruned to the final 12 players who will don the nation’s colours at the tournament.
Nigeria has been drawn in Group B alongside defending champions Tunisia, Cameroon and Madagascar. D’Tigers will begin their campaign with an opening game against Madagascar on August 13, before taking on Tunisia two days later.
They will wrap up the round-robin stage with a fixture against Cameroon on August 17. The knockout rounds will tip off on August 18 and conclude with the final which will be played at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda on August 24.
