Olopade Charges D’Tigers to Seize World Cup Qualifiers Window as Final 12-Man Roster Emerges
Oru Leonard
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has charged Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, to make the most of the fourth window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers and take a decisive step towards securing qualification for the global tournament.
Olopade gave the charge as D’Tigers unveiled their final 12-man roster for the crucial qualifying window, urging the players and technical crew to remain focused on the ultimate objective.
“This is a very important window for D’Tigers and for Nigerian basketball. We have a talented group of players and an experienced technical team, and now is the time to translate that quality into results,” Olopade said.
He urged the team to approach the games with unity, discipline and the Nigerian fighting spirit, stressing that the entire nation was behind them.
“I am charging the team to take full advantage of this window, play with unity, discipline and the Nigerian fighting spirit, and put themselves in the strongest possible position to secure qualification for the FIBA World Cup. The entire nation is behind you, and we expect you to represent Nigeria with pride and give your very best for the country,” he added.
The final 12-man roster comprises Chimezie Metu, Josh Okogie, Caleb Agada, Stan Okoye, Chima Moneke, Ike Nwamu, Udoka Azubuike, Efe Abogidi, Ebuka Izundu, Manny Obaseki, Jordan Ogundiran and Paul Dibal.
The team will be led by Head Coach David Fizdale, with Dan Craig, Quinton Crawford, Deji Akindele and Dapo Adegibile serving as assistant coaches.
D’Tigers will begin their fourth-window campaign against Cameroon on August 27, followed by a clash with South Sudan on August 28, before concluding their group fixtures against Cape Verde on August 30.
All three matches will be played in Rades, Tunisia, with Nigeria seeking to strengthen its position in the qualification race and move closer to securing a place at the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The NSC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the national team and expressed confidence in the players and technical crew as they undertake the crucial assignment.
The Commission also called on Nigerians to rally behind D’Tigers and support the team as it continues its pursuit of World Cup qualification and a place among the world’s leading basketball nations.
