As Nigeria’s D’Tigers gear up for their return to the continental spotlight at the 31st edition of the FIBA Men’s AfroBasket Championship in Angola, the team will once again be led by interim head coach Mohammed Abdulrahman.
Abdulrahman, who guided the team through a perfect qualification run in Tripoli last year, now shoulders the responsibility of steering the former African champions back to the pinnacle of basketball in Africa.
Set to compete in Group B, Nigeria will battle defending champions Tunisia, perennial contenders Cameroon, and rising side Madagascar in the group phase of the quadrennial event. It’s a tough pool, but with Abdulrahman at the helm, expectations are high.
During the final qualifying window in Libya, Abdulrahman’s tactical poise stood out as he led the D’Tigers to emphatic wins over the host nation, Uganda, and Cape Verde, securing their place at AfroBasket 2025 in commanding fashion.
Before assuming the head coach role, Abdulrahman spent years working behind the scenes as an assistant coach, contributing to Nigeria’s campaigns across several FIBA competitions.
His path began in local basketball circuits, first with Bauchi Nets, where he transitioned from assistant to head coach and later with clubs such as Gombe Bulls, Rivers Hoopers, and Nigeria Customs.
He has since accumulated valuable experience at the helm, having led the national team at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and in successive AfroBasket qualifying campaigns in 2024 and 2025.
Abdulrahman has also held supporting roles during major competitions, including AfroBasket editions in 2004, 2005, and 2006, as well as FIBA World Cup qualifiers in 2009 and 2023.
Now, with his résumé growing and the stakes higher than ever, he is seen as a vital figure in the ongoing evolution of Nigeria’s basketball program.
The D’Tigers’ journey in Angola will kick off with a vital opener against Madagascar on August 13.
They will then face a stern test against reigning champions Tunisia on August 15, before wrapping up the group stage in a clash against Cameroon on August 17.
While the Nigeria Basketball Federation has yet to release official details about the team’s training camp, insiders hint that players listed in the provisional squad should begin arriving shortly, once visa arrangements are finalized.
With Abdulrahman once again calling the shots from the sidelines, Nigeria will aim to combine youthful energy with seasoned leadership as they chase a second AfroBasket title, exactly a decade after their historic 2015 triumph.
