Fizdale names D’Tigers roster for World Cup qualifiers

D’Tigers will regroup later this month in Tunisia for the fourth window of the 2027 FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup qualifiers, with head coach David Fizdale naming a 12-man roster for Nigeria’s crucial second-round campaign, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

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

Fizdale will be assisted by Dan Craig, Quinton Crawford, Deji Akindele and Dapo Adegbile.

The return of Moneke is one of the notable developments, with the forward set to feature for Nigeria for the first time in an official senior international match since the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers in February 2021.

Moneke was subsequently named on preliminary rosters for major competitions, including the Tokyo Olympics, but did not make the final squad and has not featured for D’Tigers in an official game since.

Nigeria are among the 12 teams that advanced to the second round of the African qualifiers after the first three windows, which were played in November 2025, February 2026 and July 2026.

The teams will carry their results from the first round into the second phase, making every game crucial in the race for places at the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar.

In the second round, each team will face the three teams that advanced from the other group in two additional windows scheduled for August 2026 and February 2027.

After the six additional games, the top two teams in each group, alongside the best third-placed team, will qualify for the World Cup.

Nigeria have been drawn in a group alongside Cameroon, South Sudan, Guinea, Tunisia and Cape Verde.

D’Tigers will face Cameroon on August 27, South Sudan on August 28 and Cape Verde on August 30 in the upcoming window.

The final qualifying window will take place in February 2027, with five African teams set to secure tickets to the World Cup in Qatar.