D’Tigers Announce 17-Man Provisional Squad For 2025 FIBA AfroBasket

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has unveiled a 17-man provisional roster for the senior men’s national basketball team, D’Tigers, ahead of the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket tournament set to take place in Angola from August 12 to 24.

Leading the squad is NBA star Josh Okogie, newly signed by the Houston Rockets. Okogie returns to the national team setup after a brief hiatus, having previously represented Nigeria at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Joining him is Caleb Agada, a key player in Al Ahli Tripoli’s victorious run in the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL). Also named in the lineup are experienced players like Ike Nwamu, Mike Nuga, and Talib Zanna.

Peter Olisemeka and Devine Eke, who featured in the BAL with Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) and ASCVD (Senegal), respectively, have also earned call-ups.

The rest of the squad includes Kareem Joseph, Wesley Iwundu, Ugochukwu Simon, Stanley Okoye, Folabomi Fayemi, Emmanuel Omogbo, Christian Mekowulu, Martins Igbanu, Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, and Jekiri Tonye.

Veteran forward Chimezie Metu is notably absent from the list due to injury recovery.

This marks D’Tigers’ first official assembly since August 2023, when they competed in the FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Lagos but failed to book a spot at the Paris 2024 Summer Games.

Preparations will kick off next week with training camp, after which the roster will be trimmed down to the final 12-man squad that will compete in Angola.

Nigeria is placed in Group B alongside defending champions Tunisia, Cameroon, and Madagascar. D’Tigers open their campaign on August 13 against Madagascar, face Tunisia on August 15, and round off the group stage with a clash against Cameroon on August 17.

The knockout phase will begin on August 18 and culminate in the final at the Pavilhão Multiusos de Luanda on August 24.