The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has revealed a provisional 18-man D’Tigers roster for the first window of the FIBA 2023 World Cup qualifiers set to hold in Benguela, Angola from 26 to 28 November.
With the Nigeria Basketball Federation currently not operational, the sports ministry has taken charge of basketball affairs in the country and will coordinate Nigeria’s bid for a World Cup ticket.
The provisional list sees the return of several players who missed the Olympics and also includes a sizeable home-based contingent.
Veterans Ike Diogu, Ike Ireogbu and Jaleel Akindele return to the squad after missing out on Tokyo 2020.
The squad will have no NBA players with the season in full swing and head coach Mike Brown currently helping Steve Keer pilot the affairs of the NBA best side Golden State Warriors also misses out.
Former NBA player Julius Nwosu will take charge of the side. The 50-year-old Imo State native played briefly for the San Antonio Spurs during the 1994–95 NBA season before enjoying a lengthy career in the Lebanese Basketball League and the Philippine Basketball Association.
All five home-based players participated at the just concluded FMYSD Super 8 tournament in Abuja.
Nigeria are in Group A along with Cape Verde, Mali, and Uganda with their first game Obinna Julius Nwosu (born May 1, 1971), is a Nigerian former professional basketball player. He played briefly for the American National Basketball Association’s San Antonio Spurs during the 1994–95 Obinna Julius Nwosu (born May 1, 1971), is a Nigerian former professional basketball player. He played briefly for the American National Basketball Association’s San Antonio Spurs during the 1994–95 NBA season. He also had a career in the Lebanese Basketball League and the Philippine Basketball Association.[1 season. He also had a career in the Lebanese Basketball League and the Philippine Basketball Association.[1 to hold on 26 November against Cape Verde, before they’ll face Mali a day later and Uganda on 28 November.
The FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup is set to be held in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines from 25 August to 10 September 2023.
D’Tigers Provisional List For World Cup Qualifiers
1) Jeleel Akindele
2) Ike Diogu
3) Tarekeyi Edogi
4) Michael Efeberha
5) Benjamin Emeloju
6) Ike Ireogbu
7) Christopher Obekpa
8) Omotayo Ogundiran
9) Keith Omeorah
10) Ugonna Onyenso
11) Ben Uzoh
12) Abdulwahab Yakubu (Gombe Bulls)
13) Michael Okiki (Gombe Bulls)
14) Ibe Agu (Gombe Bulls)
15) Bright Akutie (Nigeria Customs)
16) Owen Oriakhi (Rivers Hoopers)
