Nigeria Names 12-Man Squad for FIBA World Cup Qualifiers as Window 4 Tips Off

By Emmanuel Kwada

Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, the D’Tigers, have unveiled a 12-man preliminary roster for the fourth window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers, with head coach David Fizdale set to lead the team into a crucial round of fixtures.

The roster, released ahead of the fourth window scheduled for August 27–30, 2026, features a blend of experienced international players and emerging talents as Nigeria looks to strengthen its position in the race for a place at the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The Nigerian squad comprises Efe Abogidi, Caleb Agada, Udoka Azubuike, Michael Efevberha, Ebuka Izundu, Chimezie Metu, Chima Moneke, Ike Nwamu, Manny Obaseki, Jordan Ogundiran, Josh Okogie and Stan Okoye.

Fizdale, who heads the Nigerian coaching staff, will be expected to get the best out of a roster containing players with experience in top professional leagues around the world.

The fourth window is being staged across Radès, Tunisia, and Dakar, Senegal, with 24 games scheduled during the four-day qualification period.

Nigeria faces a highly competitive field that includes continental heavyweights such as South Sudan, Senegal, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Angola, Egypt, Mali, Guinea, Cape Verde, Tunisia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Nigerian squad comprises Efe Abogidi, Caleb Agada, Udoka Azubuike, Michael Efevberha, Ebuka Izundu, Chimezie Metu, Chima Moneke, Ike Nwamu, Manny Obaseki, Jordan Ogundiran, Josh Okogie and Stan Okoye.

The window represents an important opportunity for the D’Tigers to improve their qualification prospects, with teams battling for valuable points and momentum ahead of the remaining stages of the African qualifiers.

Among the players attracting attention is Chimezie Metu, whose versatility and experience are expected to provide Nigeria with additional strength in the frontcourt. Other notable names include Josh Okogie, Chima Moneke, Caleb Agada and Ike Nwamu, who bring international experience and scoring ability to the squad.

However, FIBA cautioned that the rosters published on its platform were extracted from information made available by the respective national federations and may not necessarily represent the final squads that will take part in the games.

With the competition intensifying, Nigeria will be hoping its talented roster can deliver the performances required to keep the country firmly in contention for a place at the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

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