Ndugba, Iroegbu lead D’Tigers’ 12-man squad to FIBA African World Cup qualifiers

NBA G League star, Ikenna Ndugba and free agent, Uchenna Iroegbu, are top of D’Tigers’ 12-man list released by the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) for the third window of the FIBA Africa World Cup qualifiers, which begins in Kigali, Rwanda, on July 1.

Ndugba plays for Greensboro Swarm in the United State’s developmental league, just like another member of the squad, Michael Gbinijie, who plays for Santa Cruz Warriors.

There are four home-based players in the squad. They are Michael Okiki of Gombe Bulls, Michael Oriakhi of Rivers Hoopers, Ibe Agu of Custom, Abuja and Victor OKoko of Rivers Hoopers.

Other members of the team to be coached by Alan Major and assisted by Ogoh Odaudu are Ben Emelogu (Rouen Metropolitan, France), Chimezie Metu (Sacramento Kings), Christian Mekowolu (Casademont Zaragoza, Spain), TK Edogi (Kolin, Czech Republic) and Emmanuel Omogbo (H.Izrael, Israel).

According to the NBBF, Major is deputising for the team’s Head Coach, Mike Brown, who just got named Coach of the Sacramento Kings.

Currently ranked first in Africa, Nigeria will open its campaign against Cape Verde on July 1, before taking on Mali on July 2. The last game will be against Uganda on July 3 at the BK arena in the capital city of Kigali. 

Nigeria sits atop Group A with five points from three games. During this window, 16 teams will compete for the second leg of matches earlier decided in November 2021 and March 2022.

The top three teams from each group will advance to the second round where each team will play six games. The two top teams in each group, along with the best third-placed team, will qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.