Nigeria’s men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, are reportedly facing travel difficulties following their exit from the 2025 AfroBasket in Angola, with several players still unable to secure confirmed flights back to their clubs abroad.
According to Nigerian journalist Kenny Bamidele, the squad returned to Abuja after their quarter-final defeat but logistical issues have left some players stranded, six days after crashing out of the competition.
While a number of players have already arranged their own travel at personal expense, others remain in limbo, a situation that could impact their contracts with overseas clubs.
D’tigers. Photo Credit: Photo Credit: X
Frustrations boiled over when some players reportedly confronted the team manager about the delays, only to be left without a solution.
THIS IS SAD!
D’Tigers players have left Angola and are now in Abuja, but some still don’t have confirmed flights to their club bases abroad, a delay that could impact their contracts, sources tell me.
A few players questioned the Team Manager about the situation, but he… pic.twitter.com/MT4iJjxKiC
— Kenny Bamidele (@BigKensyn) August 26, 2025
The Nigeria Basketball Federation leadership led by Alhaji Musa Kida has also come under scrutiny, with questions raised over planning and player welfare.
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Nigeria’s AfroBasket campaign ended on the 21st of August with a 91-75 quarter-final loss to Senegal, who went on to claim bronze. D’Tigers had topped their group with wins over Madagascar, Tunisia and Cameroon but their hopes of a second continental crown were dashed in Luanda.
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Nigeria’s exit means attention now shifts to the FIBA Men’s World Cup qualifiers in November, where the team will target a return to the global stage in 2027 after missing the last edition.
