Four home-based players make D’Tigers squad for World Cup qualifiers

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has released a 15-man list for the final lap of the qualifiers for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

The federation released the roster in a statement on Monday.

Chimezie Metu of the Sacramento Kings, Josh Okogie of the Phoenix Suns and Miye Oni are included in the team alongside Ike Nwamu of BC Samara of Russia, who returns to D’Tigers for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics.

Michael Oguine of Saint Chamond in France, Ben Emelogu of Rouen Métropole Basket and Keith Omoerah of Jamtland in Sweden also made the roster.

Michael Gbinije of Oklahoma City Blue in the NBA G League, Amanze Egezeke of Kataja in Finland, Christian Mekowulu of Casademont Zaragoza and Abdul-Malik Abu who play for Oliver Wuerzburg in Germany complete the contingent of foreign-based players in the squad.

The invited home-based players include the Gombe Bulls duo of Uchenna Iroegbu and Michael Okiki. Ibe Abuchi Agu of the Nigerian Customs team and John Mathias Iduh of Kano Pillars also made the list.

Our 15-MAN SQUAD for the next window is LOADED! 🔥🔥

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Four 2020 Olympians. 5 Olympians overall and more!

Tip off in 11 days. 🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/xyI5amiLPu

— D’Tigers | Nigeria Basketball (@NigeriaBasket) August 15, 2022

The fourth window of qualifiers tip-off on August 26 in Ivory Coast with D’Tigers playing the host on the opening day.

Nigeria faces Guinea on August 27 before squaring up with Angola a day later.

D’Tigers are currently fourth on the table in Group E after two wins in four games.

Only the top two teams from the group will book automatic tickets to the FIBA 2023 World Cup billed for Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines between August 25 and September 10 next year.