D’Tigers head coach, Mike Brown has announced his final 12-man roster for the 2021 FIBA Afrobasket billed for Kigali, Rwanda. After the team’s early exit from the Olympic games earlier in the month, Brown announced his decision to lead D’Tigers out at the continental showpiece in a quest to reclaim the title which D’Tigers won in 2015.
The final roster includes four home-based players and eight others, a complete change from the team which flew the country’s flag in Tokyo.
Rivers Hoopers point guard, Ikechukwu Benjamin and Koko Victor Anthony lead the line for the home-based guys, while the duo of Nwafor Celestine Joseph (Kano Pillars) and Agu Ibe Aguchi (Gombe Bulls) complete the list of invited players from the Nigerian league.
They are joined by the likes of Daniel Utomi of Vichy Clermont in France, Ikenna Ndugba and Emmanuel Omogbo of Apoel BC of Cyprus. Benjamin Emegolu of Rouen Basket Metrople in France, TK Edogi, Stephen Domingo, Jordan Ogundiran, and Jeremiah Mordi complete the list of D’Tigers players for Rwanda.
The team is expected to arrive in Kigali on Sunday, 22nd of August ahead of their first game against Mali on Wednesday, 25th of August.
Nigeria, the number one ranked team in Africa will face Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire in Group C in a quest to improve on the silver medal won at the 2017 edition in Tunisia and replicate the performance which saw them win the title in 2015.
Coach Ogoh Odaudu who led Rivers Hoopers to the inaugural edition of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) has also joined the team as one of the assistant coaches following the resignation of coach Alex Nwora.
