By Korede James
Nigeria senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, have opened camp ahead of the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket qualifiers third window billed for Tripoli, Libya, from February 17 to February 24.
According to the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), the preparation will be conducted in two phases, with the 11 invited home-based players reporting to camp at Bentley Hotel, Abuja, on Monday for the first phase, which will run until Sunday.
The 13 overseas-based players will then join their home-based counterparts in Tripoli, Libya, on February 17 for the final phase of camping and the competition.
D’Tigers will begin the third window against Libya on February 21 and will face Uganda the following day. They will take on Cape Verde on February 23.
The NBBF released the 24-man preliminary roster for the qualifiers on Sunday.
The roster includes Zaid Hearst (Zamora, Spain), Okiki Michael (Rivers Hoppers, Nigeria), Sulaimon Azeez (Hoops & Reads, Nigeria), Mike Nuga (Valmiera Glass, Latvia), Rayyan AR Salis (Gboko City Chiefs, Nigeria), Ike Nwamu (CCMB, France), Patrick Abah (Royal Hoopers, Nigeria), Agada Caleb (Avtador, Russia), Abel Offia (Rivers Hoopers, Nigeria); Ugochukwu Simon (Virtus Ragusa, Italy), Wisdom Anyaoha (Gboko City Chiefs, Nigeria), Kareem Joseph (Hoops & Reads, Nigeria) and Martins Igbanu (Niigata Albirex BB, Japan).
Others are Ifeanyi Koko (Rivers Hoopers, Nigeria), Ibe Agu (Customs, Nigeria), Abdul Malik Abu (Arriva P. Cukier, Poland), Christian Mekowulu (Akita Northern Happinets, Japan), Talib Zanna (KK Cibona, Croatia), Bassey Effiong (Spinet Knight, Ghana), Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu (Pallacanestro Varese, Italy) Vincent Buchi (Rivers Hoopers, Nigeria), Jason Jitoboh (Vellaznimi, Kosovo) John Egbunu (Breogan, Spain) and Clinton Osabuohein Best (Hoops & Reads, Nigeria).
The 2025 FIBA AfroBasket tournament will be hosted by Angola for the fourth time between August 12 and August 24.
