Men’s AfroBasket: Rivers Hoopers BAL Recruit Makes Final Cut as D’Tigers Release 12-Man Squad

2024 Basketball Africa League bronze medallist, Devine Eke, has been named in Nigeria’s 12-man squad ahead of FIBA Men’s AfroBasket scheduled to take place in Angola from Tuesday, August 12, 2025, to Sunday, August 24, 2025.

The 29-year-old averaged 18.4 points per game, grabbed 11.3 rebounds, made 3.1 assists, shot 44% from field in his debut season(2024), all of which contributed immensely to Rivers Hoopers’ historical third-place finish. As a result of his impressive debut season, he was named in the All-BAL Second Team BAL and All-Defensive Second Team.

Devine Eke in action for Six-time Nigerian Champions Rivers Hoopers at the 4th edition of the Basketball Africa League.

Nigeria, chasing a second AfroBasket title, having won the first in 2015, will compete in Group B alongside Tunisia, Madagascar, and Cameroon. Nigeria’s first game is scheduled for Wednesday, August 13, at 2:30 PM against Madagascar.

Stan Okoye poses with the FIBA AfroBasket trophy in 2015.

Final D’Tigers Roster:

Josh Okogie, Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, Talib Zanna, Stan Okoye, Mike Nuga, Devine Eke, Christian Mekowulu, Martins Igbanu, Ugo Andrew Simon, Emmanuel Omogbo, Ike Nwamu and Caleb Agada.

Coaching staff:

Head coach, Mohammed Abdulrahman, Deji Akindele and Ikenna Smart.

Left Behind:

The players who were dropped from the squad include Fola Fayemi, Kareem Joseph, Mohamed AbdulSalam and Peter Olisemeka, who was excluded after being declared ineligible.

The Blast from the Past

Stan Okoye, the only active player remaining from the 2015 AfroBasket championship team, is not only back in the fold, but he will also co-captain the team alongside Ike Nwamu for the 2025 tournament, ten years later. The last time Stan Okoye was in the D’Tigers AfroBasket team, was in 2015, when Nigeria won the title. Lucky charm?

D’Tigers AfroBasket Preparation Timeline:

The D’Tigers’ 17-man preliminary roster was released on Thursday, July 24, 2025. The players began arriving in Nigeria for camp on Monday, August 3, 2025. They concluded their AfroBasket preparation games at the Mo Arena in Abuja, with a 1-1 record against Guinea. The first game on Thursday, August 7, ended 78-73 in favour of Nigeria, while the second game went Guinea’s way, 65 – 68.