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D’Tigers forward Stan Okoye has dismissed claims that he single-handedly rescued Nigeria’s FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 qualifying campaign, insisting the team’s recent resurgence was based on collective effort rather than individual brilliance.
Okoye played a key role as Nigeria claimed crucial wins during the last qualifying window in Luanda, Angola, defeating Tunisia, Guinea and Rwanda to breathe new life into their World Cup hopes under new head coach David Fizdale.
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The experienced point guard, one of the leaders of the D’Tigers team, believes that the team’s turnaround was largely due to the return of several key players who brought quality, experience and stability to the team.
“I don’t think it’s fair to say that one player rescued the team. It was a collective effort and everyone contributed to the victories,” Okoye said.
Nigeria entered the qualifying window under pressure after a difficult start to the campaign, but three consecutive wins have dramatically improved the country’s chances of advancing to the next phase of the African qualifiers.
Okoye attributed the impressive performances to improved team depth and team spirit, noting that the players remained focused on achieving the goal rather than seeking individual recognition.
“This time we had more of our core players available and that made a big difference. Our goal was to get the results Nigeria needed, not individual performances,” he added.
The former Basket Zaragoza and Gran Canaria star also revealed that the team is motivated by Nigeria’s position in the FIBA world rankings, with the players determined to restore the country’s status among African basketball’s elite.
With the momentum now firmly on Nigeria’s side, Okoye believes the D’Tigers have laid a solid foundation for the remainder of the qualification campaign, expressing confidence that the team can continue to build under Fizdale as they seek a place in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027.
