D’Tigers of Nigeria captain, Ike Diogu, has disclosed that he’s firmly focused on helping the team secure a spot at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.

Diogu was speaking with reporters on Thursday ahead of the second leg, first round of 2019 FIBA African qualifiers scheduled to start in Lagos on Friday.

In the words of the 2017 FIBA Afrobasket MVP via fiba.basketball, he said: “No pressure at all, we are just going out there to play the right way and hopefully, we can come out with 3 victories and the goal is to get one of these world cup tickets.”

“I have never been to the world cup and it’s an exciting challenge which we have all accepted.

“We are looking forward to qualifying in front of our home crowd.” He concluded.

Ike Diogu was part of the 12-man list released by head coach Alex Nwora on Thursday and is hoping to be a part of the FIBA World Cup for the first time.

Nigeria will face Uganda, Rwanda and Mali in Group B.

Alex Nwora and his players are in pole position to secure a spot in the 12-team second round of the 2019 FIBA African qualifiers after topping Group B at the end of the first leg in Bamako, Mali in February.

Nigeria won all the three matches played in Bamako and currently occupy top spot with six points ahead of the other teams who are joint second with four points apiece after they won one and lost two of the three games played.