NSC charges D’Tigers to strengthen World Cup qualifying bid

Nigeria’s 12-man D’Tigers squad has been urged to use the fourth window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers to improve the country’s qualification prospects. The team will play three Group E games in Radès, Tunisia, from August 27 to 30.

National Sports Commission Director-General Bukola Olopade said the players and technical staff must remain focused on securing a place at the World Cup. He described the window as an important stage for Nigeria and called for unity, discipline and determination throughout the fixtures.

D’Tigers will begin against Cameroon on August 27, meet South Sudan the following day and complete the group phase against Cape Verde on August 30. All three matches will be held at the Salle Multidisciplinaire de Radès, also known as the Radès Arena.

The venue, located about nine kilometres south of Tunis, opened in 2005 and has a capacity of between 15,000 and 17,000. It hosted the 2015 FIBA AfroBasket and was also used during the 2017 edition of the continental competition.

The squad includes Chimezie Metu, Josh Okogie, Caleb Agada, Stan Okoye, Chima Moneke and Ike Nwamu. Udoka Azubuike, Efe Abogidi, Ebuka Izundu, Manny Obaseki, Jordan Ogundiran and Paul Dibal complete the playing group.

David Fizdale heads the technical team, supported by assistants Dan Craig, Quinton Crawford, Deji Akindele and Dapo Adegibile. The NSC has backed the team ahead of the window and called for national support as D’Tigers seek to strengthen their position in the qualification campaign.