Oluchi tobex tobe-Chukwu
President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, ahead of their crucial Group C encounter against Guinea in the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers taking place in Luanda, Angola.
The fixture comes on the heels of Nigeria’s spirited 84-81 victory over Tunisia, a result that revived the country’s qualification hopes and handed newly appointed head coach David Fizdale a winning start to his competitive tenure with D’Tigers.
With Guinea entering the game as Group C leaders following an unbeaten first-round campaign, Kida believes the Nigerian team possesses the quality, experience and determination required to secure another vital victory.
“This is an exciting moment for Nigerian basketball,” Kida said while reaffirming his confidence in the team and coaching crew.
“David Fizdale brings exceptional experience, leadership and a deep understanding of the modern game. We believe he is the right person to guide D’Tigers into the next chapter as we continue building a programme capable of competing with the very best in Africa and on the world stage.”
The NBBF President also congratulated the players on their selection and urged them to approach every game with commitment and professionalism as Nigeria seeks a place at the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
“We are confident they will compete with passion, pride and professionalism,” Kida added, while calling on Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora to continue supporting the national team throughout the qualifying campaign.
Victory over Tunisia has restored confidence within the D’Tigers camp, with experienced stars such as Stan Okoye, Chimezie Metu, Caleb Agada and Michael Eric expected to play leading roles against a disciplined Guinea side.
The encounter is regarded as one of the defining matches of Nigeria’s qualification campaign, as a win would significantly improve D’Tigers’ position in Group C and strengthen their chances of advancing to the next stage of the African qualifiers.
With another decisive fixture against Rwanda still to come, every point remains crucial, and Kida believes the blend of experienced internationals, emerging talents and world-class coaching provides Nigeria with the platform to achieve its qualification ambitions.
As the race to secure a place at the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup intensifies, the NBBF President has challenged D’Tigers to build on the momentum from their victory over Tunisia and deliver another statement performance against Guinea, keeping Nigeria firmly on course for basketball’s biggest global stage.