Nigeria’s national basketball team, the D’Tigers, has announced a formidable 12-man roster for the 2027 FIBA World Cup African qualifying tournament under head coach Abdulrahaman Mohammed.
Leading the team is veteran guard Stanley Okoye, a 2015 Afrobasket champion and the squad’s longest-serving player.
The roster is a mix of experienced overseas-based stars and emerging local talents, showcasing Nigeria’s commitment to developing homegrown players.
Three home-based players earned spots, including Lagos Legends duo Chinkpa Garba and Obekpa Chris, fresh off their championship triumph, and Paul Dibal from Gboko City Chiefs, who impressed with his standout performances.
The D’Tigers have already departed for Tunisia, where they will compete in Group C alongside Rwanda, Guinea, and host nation Tunisia.
The 2027 FIBA World Cup African qualifiers will span five windows, running from November 2025 to February 2027, featuring the 16 teams that secured qualification through FIBA AfroBasket 2025.
D’Tigers Squad
1. Jordan Ogundiran – Denmark
2. Ike Nwamu – Ankara, Turkey
3. Mike Nuga – Canada
4. Simon Ugochukwu – Italy
5. Stanley Okoye – Spain
6. Paul Dibal – Gboko City Chiefs, Nigeria
7. Augustine Okafor – United Kingdom
8. Talib Zanna – USA
9. Chinkpa Garba – Lagos Legends, Nigeria
10. Obekpa Chris – Lagos Legends, Nigeria
11. Udeze Morris Chidera – Spain
12. Olisa Akinobi – USA
Technical Staff
• Head Coach: Abdulrahaman Mohammed (Nigeria)
• Assistant Coach: Akindele Ayodeji (USA)
• Assistant Coach: Job Nelson (Bahrain)
• Video Coach: Onyebuchi Onyeka (USA)
