•Houston Rockets’ Josh Okogie  leads the glory-seeking Nigerian players

After Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball, D’Tigress, conquered Africa for the fifth consecutive time just a fortnight ago, their male counterparts, D’Tigers, have departed Abuja for Angola where they will strive to emulate them, to also win the 2025 Men’s Afrobasket Championship.

The tournament is scheduled to tip off on Tuesday, August 12 through August 24 in the Southern African nation. D’Tigers are drawn in Group B alongside Tunisia, Cameroon, and Madagascar.

D’Tigers have only won the tournament once in 2015 and have finished as runners up four times in 1997, 1999, 2003 and 2017.

Leading Nigeria’s charge at the 2025 edition of the continental basketball showpiece is NBA star and Houston Rockets’ latest signing, Josh Okogie, who makes a return to the national team after almost five years absence. 

The former Phoenix Suns guard last featured for Nigeria at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Also back in the team is Caleb Agada, a central figure in the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) championship-winning side. Agada, who currently plays for Al Ahli Tripoli in Libya, is among several top talents called up for national duty.

Top stars like, Mike Nuga, Ike Nwamu, Talib Zanna have reinforced the squad to put Nigeria in the frame to gun for the Afrobasket title once more. Other standout players include; Peter Olisemeka (Rivers Hoopers, Nigeria) and Devine Eke (ASCVD, Senegal).

Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, Stan Okoye, Christian Mekowulu, Martins Igbanu, Ugo Andrew Simon, Emmanuel Omogbo, Fola Fayemi, Kareem Joseph, and late addition Mohammed Abdulsalam are all raring to go for the ultimate prize.

Of course, D’Tigers will want to have their share of the dollar largesse that the President Bola Tinubu administration is throwing at sports men and women as a incentive to woo youths back into the sector. 

Meanwhile, Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has charged the players to give their all for the champion’s medal.

“I urge you to go all out for the championship and bring the trophy home. Use the last four qualifying matches which were all victories, as your morale booster. No tension; relax, play your game, and make Nigeria proud,” Hon. Olopade notes.

While Hon. Olopade is away on official duty in the United Kingdom, he ensured he relayed his support to the team, expressing his good wishes and reassured them of the Commission’s backing as they represent the nation in Angola.

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