D’Tigers forward Stan Okoye has dismissed claims that he single-handedly rescued Nigeria’s 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification campaign, insisting the team’s recent resurgence was built on collective effort rather than individual brilliance.
Okoye played a key role as Nigeria secured crucial victories during the latest qualification 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 guard, one of the leaders in the D’Tigers squad, believes the team’s turnaround was largely due to the return of several core players who brought quality, experience and stability to the squad.
“I don’t think it’s fair to say one player rescued the team. This was a collective effort, and everyone contributed to the victories,” Okoye said.
Nigeria entered the qualification window under pressure after a difficult start to the campaign, but three consecutive wins have dramatically improved the country’s chances of progressing to the next phase of the African qualifiers.
Okoye credited the improved squad depth and team spirit for the impressive performances, stressing that the players remained focused on achieving the objective rather than seeking individual recognition.
“We had more of our core players available this time, and that made a big difference. Our focus was on getting the results Nigeria needed, not on individual performances,” he added.
The former Basket Zaragoza and Gran Canaria star also revealed that the team drew motivation from Nigeria’s position in the FIBA world rankings, with the players determined to restore the country’s status among Africa’s basketball elite.
With momentum now firmly on Nigeria’s side, Okoye believes D’Tigers have laid a strong foundation for the remainder of the qualification campaign, expressing confidence that the team can continue building under Fizdale as they pursue a place at the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
