Nigeria’s men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, has dropped 11 spots in the latest FIBA World Rankings, now ranked 53rd globally and 8th in Africa, following their quarter-final exit at the AfroBasket 2025 tournament held in Luanda, Angola.
The team’s FIBA points fell from 297.8 in March 2025 to 248.7, marking one of the most significant declines globally. Other teams that suffered similar ranking drops include Morocco, Tunisia, the Virgin Islands, and Kosovo, while Mali, South Africa, Turkey, Cyprus, and Jamaica recorded the most notable gains.
Under the leadership of head coach Mohammed Abdulrahman, D’Tigers advanced to the quarter-finals but were eliminated after a 91-75 loss to Senegal. Despite the defeat, Nigeria had a strong group-stage performance, finishing top of Group B with wins over Madagascar, Tunisia, and Cameroon.
“The quarter-final exit was disappointing, but the team showed glimpses of strong play during the group matches,” said Abdulrahman. “We identified areas that need improvement, particularly in preparation and consistency, as we look ahead to upcoming qualifiers.”
Key players like Caleb Agada, Josh Okogie, Stan Okoye, and Ike Nwamu delivered standout performances during the tournament, offering hope for a stronger comeback in future competitions.
With AfroBasket 2025 behind them, D’Tigers are now turning their focus to the FIBA Men’s World Cup Qualifiers, set to begin in November 2025. The team is aiming to qualify for the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar. Nigeria’s last appearance at the tournament was in 2019, under former coach Alex Nwora.
On the African continent, the top five teams are:
- South Sudan
- Angola
- Ivory Coast
- Egypt
- Senegal
Globally, the top five teams in the latest FIBA rankings are:
- United States
- Germany
- Serbia
- France
- Canada
