Team Profile: Get ready as Nigeria, a.k.a. D'Tigers, seeks redemption after a disappointing Olympic Qualifying Tournament campaign. With eyes firmly set on the prize, will D'Tigers secure their ticket to the 2025 FIBA Men’s Afrobasket?
Last Updated on
February 20, 2024
Elango Mbotona
Staff Writer
The former AfroBasket champions and four-time continental silver medalists will journey to Monastir to compete in the first window of the 2025 FIBA Men’s AfroBasket Qualifiers. D’Tigers’ last qualification campaign, hosted in the West African nation, was the pre-Olympic qualifying tournament in August 2023, a campaign that did not go as planned.
D'Tigers were eliminated in the competition's group phase, suffering defeats against Senegal and Mali. This outcome was a the result of poor organisation which lead to inadequate preparation for the squad, with D'Tigers having only three days of practice. The upcoming opportunity presents a crucial chance for redemption for D'Tigers.
From February 23rd to 25th, 2024, Nigeria will compete the first window of the 2025 FIBA Men’s AfroBasket Qualifiers in Tunisia, Monastir. During the three-day campaign, will take on the winner of the two-leg pre-qualifier games between Libya and Morocco, followed by a game against Uganda or Cape Verde. Coach Adauda Ogoh has assembled a 20-man squad to prepare for the tournament.
Ogoh has assembled a completely different squad from the previous Olympic pre-qualifying tournament, introducing new players like point guard Zaid Christopher Hearst-Okpalannaka, who is currently playing for the Spanish LEB Gold club Melilla Ciudad del Deporte, and Kinsley Edosomwan from Abidjan Basket Club.
Some notable absentees from the squad are Baskonia and Euroleague superstar Chima Moneke, Phoenix Suns forward/center Metu Chimezie, and Uche Iroegbu, who is currently playing for Al-Shamal Sports Club in the Qatar Stars League.
D’Tigers ended up in 12th place at the 2021 FIBA AfroBasket in Rwanda, marking their lowest finish since 1972. With a refreshed squad, the team has a renewed sense of optimism. Fans and neutrals alike are eager to see if the West African nation can secure their spot in the 2025 FIBA Men’s AfroBasket.
[Photo Credit: FIBA]
