D’Tigers’ sensation at the ongoing African Men’s Senior Basketball Championship in Luanda, Angola, Josh Okogie has revealed that the passion of being a ‘real’ Nigerian is spurring him towards winning this year’s title for the country.
Sports247 reports that, while some fans are critical of the presence of several players born in the United States of America in Nigeria’s squad, Okogie has come out with a disclosure that his case is different.
The Houston Rockets of USA point guard went on to reveal that, though he grew up in America, he was actually born in Nigeria, hence the zeal with which he plays for D’Tigers.
Okogie, who previously played for two other USA National Basketball Association (NBA) teams, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Charlotte Hornets, said he always feels the desire to make Nigeria proud.
Okogie, who was born in Lagos but taken to the USA by his parents at the age of three, also disclosed that he really felt at home during the short period that D’Tigers spent in Nigeria preparing for AfroBasket 2025, and he was thrilled playing a friendly match in front of the home crowd.
The 26-year-old star, who started playing basketball at Shiloh High School in the USA, revealed: “I was born in Nigeria. So, I always feel attached to home. I was very happy that we were able to do our training camp in Nigeria.
“Playing in front of those fans was probably the most satisfying moment my heart has ever felt playing basketball. It was a delight being able to play in front of those Nigerian fans.
“Obviously, it was an exhibition game, but it really meant something special for me. To be able to represent my country means the world to me and my family.”
Okogie, who was Nigeria’s top scorer in their last two matches at AfroBasket 2025 – versus Tunisia and Cameroon – will on Wednesday get the chance to take the nationalism in him to another level, as D’Tigers battle five-time champions, Senegal, in the quarter-finals.
Senegal reached this stage with a 78-65 victory over South Sudan, and the team that lost to Nigeria in the 2015 semi-finals will be eager to replicate their conquests of 1968, 1972, 1978, 1980 and 1987.
While Senegal also has six silver medals and five bronze medals, Nigeria, whose only title was in 2015, has been runners-up thrice (1997, 1999, 2003 and 2017) as well as third in 1995, 2005 and 2011.
The winner of Wednesday’s game at Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda will book an automatic ticket to the next edition of the FIBA World Basketball Championship.
