THE Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has announced a 24 man D’Tigers’ provisional roster for the crucial final Window 2025 AfroBasket Qualifiers scheduled to hold later this month in Tripoli, the Libyan capital.
The roster was made public over the weekend and it include 11 players from 4 clubs in the domestic league with Champions, Rivers Hoopers having the lion share of 5 players.
One of the biggest club on the domestic front, Hoops N’ Read has three on the list while Wisdom Anyaoha and Rayyan AR Salis from Gboko City Chiefs is joined by Customs’ shooting guard Ibe Agu.
According to ZealMediaCast, the 11 home base players will be supported by 13 other players from Europe, Asia and Africa for the first phase of D’Tigers camping in Abuja.
The foreign base players are from Croatia, France, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Latvia, Poland, Russia and Spain. Italy, Japan and Spain have two players each.
Coach Abdulrahman Mohammed and his streak of Tigers are expected to report to Bentley Hotel in Utako District in Abuja from Monday the 10th of February and will spend a week together before heading to Libya.
He will be assisted by former D’Tigers centre and 2017 AfroBasket silver medallist, 41 year old, Deji Akindele and Isikaku Ikenna Smart, an assistant video coordinator for the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers.
Isikaku Ikenna Smart is also the founder and CEO of the Smart Sport Foundation, a humanitarian aid organization that provides basketball shoes and resources to underprivileged athletes and coaches.
A look at the team Abdulrahman Mohammed will be working with before he names his final roster shows that the coach has opted for versatile players with excellent vision of the game.
The 31-year-old, 2017 AfroBasket silver medallist, Ikechukwu Sean Nwamu, a shooting guard will captain D’Tigers for the make or mar Qualifiers.
Shortly after the provisional roster was made public, this is how point guard, Ademola Kareem Joseph of Hoops N’ Reads reacted to his inclusion.
“I am thrilled and excited that my tireless efforts and hard work, training every day and giving my best on and off the court, has borne fruit.”
He added: “This is the second time I’m playing on the National level and I’m glad that I have been given another chance to represent my country.
“I give all glory to God who made sure that my efforts last season were recognized by Coach Adulrahman, a very passionate basketball stakeholder.”
The first time Kareem Joseph, received the invitation to represent my country was in 2023 for the 2023 FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers, but he couldn’t play due to an ACL injury suffered during Invitational West Africa Basketball Championship, then he just won the NBBF Men’s Premier League with Kwara Falcons and was heading to BAL and after struggling to recover, the point guard just couldn’t make it in time.
He strongly believe that D’Tigers have what it takes to return from Tripoli with the AfroBasket ticket to Angola.
“My dream for the team is for us to win all games at stake and hope that all results go in our favour to qualify for the FIBA AfroBasket 2025.”
THE PROVISIONAL LIST:
★ Zaid Hearst – Zamora – Spain-Small Forward
★ Mike Nuga – Valmiera Glasses – Latvia-Shooting Guard
★ Ike Nwamu – CCMB – France-Shooting Guard
★ Agada Caleb – Avtador – Russia-Small Forward
★ Ugochukwu Simon – Virtus Ragusa – Italy-Small Forward
★ Martins Igbanu – Niigata Albirex BB – Japan-Forward
★ Abdul Malik Abu – Arriva P. Cukier – Poland-Power Forward
★ Christian Mekowulu – Akita Northern Happinets – Japan-Power Forward
★ Talib Zanna – KK Cibona – Croatia-Power Forward
★ Bassey Effiong – Spinet Knight – Ghana-Centre
★ Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu -Pallacanestro Varese – Italy-Forward
★ Jason Jitoboh – Vellaznimi – Kosovo-Centre
★ John Egbunu – Breogan – Spain -Centre
★ Patrick Abah – Royal Hoopers-Forward
★ Vincent Buchi – Royal Hoopers-Small Forward
★ Ifeanyi Koko – Royal Hoopers-Centre
★ Abel Offia – Royal Hoopers-Shooting Guard
★ Okiki Michael – Royal Hoppers-Point Guard
★ Kareem Joseph – Hoops N’ Reads-Point Guard
★ Clinton Osabuohein Best – Hoops N’ Reads-Centre
★ Sulaimon Azeez – Hoops N’ Reads-Small Forward
★ Wisdom Anyaoha – Gboko City Chiefs-Shooting Guard
★ Rayyan AR Salis – Gboko City Chiefs-Shooting Guard
★ Ibe Agu – Customs-Shooting Guard