FIBA World Cup Qualifiers: Metu, Okogie Headline D’Tigers’ 15-Man Roster
D’Tigers coach Mike Brown has invited 15 players to represent Nigeria for the fourth qualification window of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, scheduled to hold in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire.
Nigeria will face hosts Cote d’Ivoire on the 26th of August, before facing Guinea on the 27th of August and then Angola on the 28th to wrap up the fourth window of qualifiers.
NBA stars Chimezie Metu of the Sacramento Kings and Josh Okogie of the Phoenix Suns headline the 15-man roster. Others are Michael Gbinijie, Michael Oguine, Michael Okiki, Keith Omoerah, Christian Mekowulu, Ben Emelogu, Amanze, Egekeze, Miye Oni, Ike Nwamu, Ibe Aguchi, Uchenna Iroegbu, John Mathias Iduh and Abdul-Malik Abu.
Our 15-MAN SQUAD for the next window is LOADED! 🔥🔥
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 fifth and final window of qualifiers will see Nigeria face Cote d’Ivoire for a second time on February 24, Guinea on February 25, and Angola on February 26.
At the end of these additional six games per team, the two top in each group, along with the best third-placed side will qualify for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia from August 25 to September 10.
Cape Verde and Uganda are also in Group E, but Nigeria won’t play any games against them, having already faced off in Group A of the first round of qualifiers. All teams will carry over their results from the first round with D’Tigers wrapping up their campaign with a 91-72 victory against Uganda in Kigali on July 3rd.
Team Nigeria finished second behind Cape Verde on six points, with two wins and two defeats from four games. Meanwhile, Cote d’Ivoire won all six of their first-round games in Group C for 12 points, Angola won four out of six for 10 points, while Guinea won just one game from six.
Group F is made up of South Sudan, Tunisia, Cameroon, Egypt, Congo DR, and Senegal.
Chidi Nwoke/D’Tigers/NBBF.
