Nigeria men's national basketball team

The Nigeria national basketball team represents Nigeria in men's international basketball and it is overseen by the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).

 Nigeria
FIBA ranking22 (1 March 2022)[1]
Joined FIBA1964
FIBA zoneFIBA Africa
National federationNigeria Basketball Federation
CoachMike Brown
Nickname(s)D'Tigers
Olympic Games
Appearances3
FIBA World Cup
Appearances3
AfroBasket
Appearances19
Medals Gold: (2015)
Silver: (1997, 1999, 2003, 2017)
Bronze: (1995, 2005, 2011)
All Africa Games
Appearances8
Medals Gold: (2011)
Bronze: (1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015)

In March 2021, the global governing body FIBA ranked Nigeria as Africa's top men's basketball nation.[2] After the 2016 Olympic Men's Basketball Tournament in Rio, Nigeria was ranked 16th in the FIBA World Rankings, making them the top climber in FIBA rankings from 2015.[3]

Nigeria is the only African nation to beat the United States. Nigeria is also the first African team to qualify for the Summer Olympics through the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament. This was accomplished at the 2012 Event when Nigeria beat the world elite teams of Lithuania and Greece. In 2015, Nigeria won its first crown as basketball champion of Africa.

History

The history of basketball in Nigeria goes as far back as the late 1950s when Walid Zabadne served as the first basketball coach to train Nigerians. At the time, Nigeria's only basketball court was situated in the Syrian Club in Lagos. Walid Zabadne continued teaching young Nigerians to become basketballers and when Nigeria's basketball federation was organized, he took them to several basketball competitions across Africa. In view of his role as the pioneer of basketball in Nigeria, Walid Zabadne has been deemed "father of Nigerian basketball’’. Also worthy of note is that Zabadne was later made the president of the Nigerian Basketball Federation.

Nigeria's national basketball team joined FIBA in 1964. Since the mid-1990s, the team has enjoyed unprecedented success, due to an increasing amount of talents from Nigeria as well as an orchestrated recruitment of American college and professional players of Nigerian descent. The D'Tigers (as the team is nicknamed) qualified for the 2006 FIBA World Championship, marking only the second time in the country's history that they qualified to the FIBA World Cup. Team Nigeria usually plays its home games at the 3,000-capacity Indoor Sports Hall in Lagos.[4][5]

2006 FIBA World Championship

Nigeria took part in the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan. They were drawn in Group A with Argentina, France, Lebanon, Serbia and Montenegro, and Venezuela. They surprisingly finished third in Group A, then were narrowly defeated by Germany in the Round of 16. Overall they finished 14th, as they achieved the same record as the defending world champion Serbia and Montenegro.

2012 Summer Olympics

Nigeria competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics. They finished the group play with a 1–4 record, with their lone victory coming against Tunisia in their Olympics debut.[6] The team's roster, assembled by coach Ayodele Bakare, primarily comprised former college basketball players.[7]

2016 Summer Olympics

Nigeria qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics tournament as champions of AfroBasket 2015. They finished at the bottom of Group B, winning one game against Croatia and losing four games. The team entered the 2016 games with several injured players and little financial support from the Nigerian government.[8]

2020 Summer Olympics

As the top African team at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Nigeria qualified for their third consecutive Olympics berth for the 2020 Summer Olympics.[9] The team, which included seven NBA players and was led by Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown, was called up for training in the United States in June 2021. D'Tigers defeated the United States 90–87 during an exhibition game in Las Vegas on 10 July. The victory, described as an "upset", was the first for an African team against the United States.[10][11]

Team honours and achievements

Intercontinental

Continental

Performance table

Olympic Games

Year Position Tournament Host
2012102012 Summer OlympicsLondon, United Kingdom
2016112016 Summer OlympicsRio de Janeiro, Brazil
2020102020 Summer OlympicsTokyo, Japan
2024To be determined2024 Summer OlympicsParis, France

FIBA World Cup

Year Position Tournament Host
1998131998 FIBA World ChampionshipAthens, Greece
2006142006 FIBA World ChampionshipJapan
2019172019 FIBA Basketball World CupChina
2023To be determined2023 FIBA Basketball World CupPhilippines, Japan and Indonesia

FIBA Africa Championship

Year Position Tournament Host
1965FIBA Africa Championship 1965Tunis, Tunisia
1968FIBA Africa Championship 1968Casablanca, Morocco
1970FIBA Africa Championship 1970Alexandria, Egypt
197212FIBA Africa Championship 1972Dakar, Senegal
1974FIBA Africa Championship 1974Bangui, Central African Republic
1975FIBA Africa Championship 1975Alexandria, Egypt
19786FIBA Africa Championship 1978Dakar, Senegal
198011FIBA Africa Championship 1980Rabat, Morocco
1981FIBA Africa Championship 1981Mogadishu, Somalia
1983FIBA Africa Championship 1983Alexandria, Egypt
19857FIBA Africa Championship 1985Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
19878FIBA Africa Championship 1987Tunis, Tunisia
1989FIBA Africa Championship 1989Luanda, Angola
19925FIBA Africa Championship 1992Cairo, Egypt
1993FIBA Africa Championship 1993Nairobi, Kenya
1995FIBA Africa Championship 1995Algiers, Algeria
1997FIBA Africa Championship 1997Dakar, Senegal
1999FIBA Africa Championship 1999Angola
20015FIBA Africa Championship 2001Casablanca, Morocco
2003FIBA Africa Championship 2003Alexandria, Egypt
2005FIBA Africa Championship 2005Algeria
20075FIBA Africa Championship 2007Angola
20095FIBA Africa Championship 2009Libya
2011FIBA Africa Championship 2011Antananarivo, Madagascar
20137FIBA Africa Championship 2013Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
2015FIBA Africa Championship 2015Radès, Tunisia
2017AfroBasket 2017Senegal/Tunisia
202112AfroBasket 2021Rwanda

African Games

  • 1973 – ?
  • 1987 – ?
  • 1995 –
  • 1999 –
  • 2003 –
  • 2007 –
  • 2011 –
  • 2015 –

FIBA Stanković Continental Champions' Cup

  • 2013 –
  • 2016 –

Commonwealth Games

  • 2006 – 4th
  • 2018 – 5th

Team

Current roster

Roster for the Afrobasket 2021.[12]

Nigeria men's national basketball team roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameAge – Date of birthHeightClubCtr.
PG 0 Jordan Ogundiran 24 – (1996-11-30)30 November 1996 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Kamza
G 3 Ben Emelogu 26 – (1994-11-24)24 November 1994 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Rouen
G 4 Daniel Utomi 24 – (1997-03-07)7 March 1997 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Vichy-Clermont
F 5 Emmanuel Omogbo 26 – (1995-05-28)28 May 1995 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) APOEL
PG 11 Ikenna Ndugba 23 – (1998-06-11)11 June 1998 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Elon Phoenix
G 12 Ibe Agu 24 – (1997-05-02)2 May 1997 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) ABC Fighters
PG 13 Jeremiah Mordi 28 – (1993-01-07)7 January 1993 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) Caen
F 14 Tarekeyi Edogi 27 – (1994-02-21)21 February 1994 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Paulus Pärnu
C 15 Victor Koko 28 – (1992-12-14)14 December 1992 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Rivers Hoopers
C 18 Celestine Nwafor 27 – (1994-03-16)16 March 1994 2.09 m (6 ft 10 in) Kano Pillars BC
PG 22 Ikechukwu Benjamin 24 – (1997-06-14)14 June 1997 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Rivers Hoopers
PF 31 Stephen Domingo 26 – (1995-05-09)9 May 1995 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Free agent
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • Club – describes last
    club before the competition
  • Age – describes age
    on 24 August 2021

Depth chart

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2 Bench 3
C Precious Achiuwa Jahlil Okafor Charles Bassey Udoka Azubuike
PF Chimezie Metu Chima Moneke KZ Okpala Suleiman Braimoh
SF Jordan Nwora Miye Oni Miye Oni Stan Okoye
SG Gabe Vincent Josh Okogie Obi Emegano Ike Nwamu
PG Monte Morris Spencer Dinwiddie

Notable players

Several players of the Nigeria national team have had success playing for professional teams, in the NBA, or in Europe, including:

Hakeem Olajuwon never played for Nigeria at the international senior level,[13] and would eventually play for the United States, after becoming a US citizen in 1993.

Past rosters

2009 African Championship: finished 5th among 16 teams

Akin Akingbala, Aloysius Anagonye, Chamberlain Oguchi, Deji Akindele, Michael Efevberha, Michael Umeh, Josh Akognon, Ebi Ere, Ejike Ugboaja, Gabe Muoneke, Jayson Obazuaye, Benson Egemonye (Coach: John Lucas II)

2011 African Championship: finished 3rd among 16 teams

Solomon Tat, Ime Udoka, Abubakar Usman, Chinedu Onyeuku, Ike Ofoegbu, Michael Umeh, Stanley Gumut, Derrick Obasohan, Ejike Ugboaja, Ezenwa Ukeagu, Jayson Obazuaye, Olumide Oyedeji (Coach: Ayo Bakare)

2012 Summer Olympics: finished 10th among 12 teams

Tony Skinn, Ekene Ibekwe, Ike Diogu, Al-Farouq Aminu, Ade Dagunduro, Chamberlain Oguchi, Koko Archibong, Richard Oruche, Ejike Ugboaja, Derrick Obasohan, Alade Aminu, Olumide Oyedeji (Coach: Ayo Bakare)

2020 Olympic roster: A 15-player roster was announced on 6 July 2021.[14] The final squad was released on 20 July 2021.[15]

2020 Olympic roster
Nigeria national basketball team roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameAge – Date of birthHeightClubCtr.
F 0 KZ Okpala 22 – (1999-04-28)28 April 1999 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Miami Heat
G 3 Caleb Agada 26 – (1994-08-31)31 August 1994 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Hapoel Be'er Sheva
C 8 Ekpe Udoh 34 – (1987-05-20)20 May 1987 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Virtus Bologna
PF 10 Chimezie Metu 24 – (1997-03-22)22 March 1997 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) Sacramento Kings
SG 11 Obi Emegano 28 – (1993-04-29)29 April 1993 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Fuenlabrada
G 13 Miye Oni 23 – (1997-08-04)4 August 1997 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Utah Jazz
C 15 Jahlil Okafor 25 – (1995-12-15)15 December 1995 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Atlanta Hawks
G 20 Josh Okogie 22 – (1998-09-01)1 September 1998 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Minnesota Timberwolves
G 22 Gabe Vincent 25 – (1996-06-14)14 June 1996 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Miami Heat
F 33 Jordan Nwora 22 – (1998-09-09)9 September 1998 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Milwaukee Bucks
G 34 Ike Nwamu 28 – (1993-06-03)3 June 1993 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Samara
PF 55 Precious Achiuwa 21 – (1999-09-19)19 September 1999 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Miami Heat
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • Club – describes last
    club before the tournament
  • Age – describes age
    on 25 July 2021

Head coaches

Kit

Manufacturer

2019–present: Peak

See also

References

  1. "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  2. "Omnisports – Basketball : Le Nigéria toujours " Number One " en Afrique". AfricaFootUnited.com (in French). 3 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  3. "FIBA rankings". FIBA. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  4. "The need for proper Basketball arena(s) in Nigeria". temidayojnr.medium.com/. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  5. Ayodele (1 March 2017). "Lagos ready to take over Surulere National Stadium – Ambode". Punch. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  6. Young, Sonny (29 July 2012). "Nigeria, Tunisia Tip Off London Olympic Men's Basketball". Voice of America. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  7. Bishop, Greg (6 August 2012). "Bruised and Beaten, but Nigerians Are Unbowed". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  8. Wolff, Alexander (8 August 2016). "Nigeria's men's basketball team left scrambling after financial, player issues". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  9. "Nigeria open Tokyo 2020 camp in California with 49-man list". FIBA. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  10. Abrams, Jonathan (10 July 2021). "Nigeria Wins Historic Upset Over Team U.S.A. in Olympic Exhibition". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  11. Windhorst, Brian (10 July 2021). "Team USA stunned by Nigeria in rare exhibition basketball loss ahead of Tokyo Olympics". ESPN. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  12. "Team Roster Nigeria". fiba.basketball. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  13. "Forget it, Nigeria. Victor Oladipo is gone!". Basketball. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  14. "Tokyo Olympics: D'Tigers' coach names provisional squad, omits Diogu". premiumtimesng.com. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  15. "Nigeria unveil Tokyo 2020 roster with eight NBA stars". fiba.basketball. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  16. "Team Roster Nigeria" (PDF). olympics.com. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  17. "NBBF hires Will Voigt to lead D'Tigers to Afrobasket and All African Games; may lead team to Rio 2016 Olympic Games". Basketball. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  18. Ayodele (9 August 2017). "Afrobasket: NBBF appoints Alex Nwora as D'Tigers coach". Punch. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  19. Goldberg, Wes (4 February 2020). "Warriors assistant Mike Brown will coach Nigeria in 2020 Olympics: report". The Mercury News. Retrieved 3 September 2021.

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