NEWLY appointed D’Tigers head coach David Fizdale has unveiled an ambitious vision for Nigeria’s men’s basketball team, declaring that his target is not only to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles but also to compete for a medal and ultimately victory at the tournament.
Speaking in an interview with M4S TV as quoted by ESPN monitored by News Point Nigeria Sport, Fizdale said Nigeria must embrace a winning mentality similar to that of the United States as the national team begins a fresh rebuilding process under his leadership.
“We have to make getting to Los Angeles our mission,” Fizdale said.
The American coach stressed that merely qualifying for the Olympics would not be enough for him or the team, insisting that D’Tigers must set their sights on achieving success at the highest level of global basketball.
“That is my ultimate goal, to get this team to those Olympics. And not just get there. I want to win,” he said.
Fizdale further emphasised the importance of adopting long-term ambitions rather than settling for participation, arguing that Nigeria must reject mediocrity if it hopes to evolve into an elite basketball nation.
“We can’t set short goals. We can’t just say, ‘Oh, we’re happy to be in the Olympics.’ That is not acceptable. We have to set higher goals. We have to set the same goals as the U.S. team, the same expectations as the U.S. team,” he said.
The United States remains the dominant force in Olympic basketball, having won a record 17 gold medals and secured five consecutive titles from Beijing 2008 through Paris 2024 after its last defeat at the Games in 2004.
Despite acknowledging the enormity of the challenge, Fizdale insisted that aiming for the very top is necessary for the development and growth of the Nigerian team.
“Can we reach it? I don’t know. But if we’re shooting for that and working in that way, pushing ourselves and holding ourselves accountable to be on that level, only good things can come out of that,” he stated.
The coach also revealed that players he has spoken with are equally determined to achieve more than just qualification for the Olympics.
“I guarantee you one thing, the guys I’ve talked to who want to play and are working to get eligibility, they’re not going to be happy just to be at the Olympics. They’re going to want to win a medal,” he added.
Fizdale assumes leadership of a D’Tigers side that has struggled with instability in recent years amid lingering administrative issues affecting Nigerian basketball.
The team has endured inconsistent performances in recent competitions and currently sits third in Group C of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers following defeats to Tunisia and Guinea, alongside an overtime victory against Rwanda.
Despite the recent struggles, D’Tigers has represented Nigeria at three Olympic Games London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 but is yet to secure a basketball medal at the global stage.
There is renewed optimism surrounding the programme, however, following reports that several NBA players are willing to represent Nigeria under Fizdale’s leadership.
Among those reportedly open to joining the squad ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 cycle are Aaron Nesmith, Desmond Bane, Onyeka Okongwu and Ayo Dosunmu as efforts intensify to strengthen the national team for future international competitions.