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The 11 home-based players invited for the D’Tigers’ next phase of the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket qualifiers will open Nigeria’s camp in Abuja on Monday (today), with their foreign counterparts scheduled to join them later, the Nigeria Basketball Federation has announced.
The NBBF on Sunday released a preliminary 24-man roster for the third phase of the qualifier set to take place in Tripoli, Libya, from February 17-24.
According to the NBBF, the preparation will be conducted in two phases with the home-based players expected to report to camp at Bentley Hotel, Abuja, on Monday, February 10, for the first phase, which will run until February 16.
The foreign-based players will then join the selected home-based players in Tripoli, Libya, on February 17 for the final phase of camp and the competition.
D’Tigers will once again be led by head coach Abdulrahman Mohammed, who guided the team in the first window.
He will be assisted by former Nigerian international Deji Akindele and Isikaku Smart, an assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA.
Nigeria are currently bottom of Group B in the series after losing all their three matches in the last round of qualifying matches last year.
The top three teams will progress to the 2025 tournament in Angola.
The preliminary 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) – Team Captain; Patrick Abah (Royal Hoopers, Nigeria).
Others are; 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); Martins Igbanu (Niigata Albirex BB, Japan); 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) 22. Jason Jitoboh (Vellaznimi, Kosovo); John Egbunu (Breogan, Spain) and Clinton Osabuohein Best (Hoops & Reads, Nigeria).
