D’Tigers guard Josh Okogie has refused to give up on Nigeria’s 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup dream, insisting that the team remains “within striking distance” of qualification despite a difficult qualifying window.
Nigeria endured a frustrating run in the latest phase of the African qualifiers, losing their opening two games against Cameroon and South Sudan before recovering to defeat Cape Verde 100-84 in their final match.
The 1-2 record was far from what the players wanted, but Okogie believes the victory over Cape Verde has ensured that Nigeria remain firmly in contention.
“Obviously, 1-2 is not the result we wanted,” Okogie said.
“But at the end of the day, we are not completely out of this. We are within striking distance.”
The Houston Rockets guard admitted that the first two defeats were disappointing, particularly because Nigeria had opportunities to produce better results.
D’Tigers were beaten 78-62 by Cameroon before suffering a narrow 82-79 loss to South Sudan, leaving them with little room for error heading into their final game.
But Nigeria responded emphatically against Cape Verde.
They produced their strongest offensive performance of the window, scoring 100 points to secure a convincing 100-84 victory and give themselves a much-needed boost heading into the final phase of the qualification campaign.
Okogie said the response demonstrated the fighting spirit within the group.
“We’re going to continue to fight,” he said.
“We still have a chance to represent Nigeria at the World Cup.”
The result means Nigeria will enter the decisive final window in February 2027 still with a realistic opportunity to secure one of the qualification places available from Africa.
For Okogie, the most important thing now is to use the lengthy break before the final games to correct the mistakes made during the latest window.
The veteran guard believes D’Tigers must become more consistent, particularly after allowing Cameroon and South Sudan to dictate important periods of those games.
“We have to learn from these games and continue to get better,” he said.
Nigeria’s victory over Cape Verde was powered by an outstanding performance from Caleb Agada, who erupted for 26 points and made eight three-pointers, while Okogie himself contributed across the floor.
The performance provided a sharp contrast to Nigeria’s struggles in their opening two games and demonstrated the level D’Tigers can reach when their shooting and intensity are clicking.
But Okogie knows that one impressive performance cannot erase the problems exposed earlier in the window.
The team will need to maintain that level when the qualification battle resumes in February.
The 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup will be staged in Qatar, and Nigeria are determined to return to the global tournament after missing the previous edition.
The remaining qualification games will therefore carry enormous importance.
Okogie, who has been one of Nigeria’s leading international players in recent years, believes the players must remain united and focused rather than allowing the disappointing results to affect their confidence.
“We are not completely out of this,” he reiterated.
“We are within striking distance.”
That belief could prove crucial as D’Tigers prepare for the final stage of their campaign.
Nigeria may have stumbled during the latest window, but the Cape Verde victory has kept the door open.
Now, Okogie wants the team to use the time available, fix its weaknesses and return in February ready to finish the job.
Because for D’Tigers, the World Cup dream is still alive — and Josh Okogie believes Nigeria are close enough to fight for it.
