Nigeria’s ambition to assemble a formidable basketball squad ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics has received a major boost after four National Basketball Association (NBA)players reportedly expressed their willingness to represent D’Tigers following the appointment of David Fizdale as head coach.

Fizdale, a former NBA head coach with the Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks, recently worked as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns between 2023 and 2025 before taking charge of Nigeria’s men’s national team.

Basketball journalist and scout Coach Hova revealed that Aaron Nesmith has already committed to representing Nigeria in the next international basketball window.

Confirming the development, he wrote on X, “Sources close to me have confirmed that Aaron Nesmith has committed to representing the D’Tigers in the upcoming international basketball window.”

The Indiana Pacers forward was selected by the Boston Celtics with the 14th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft before joining Indiana in 2022.

Hova also disclosed that Desmond Bane had begun processing his international switch to Nigeria ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

“Desmond Bane is committed and already processing his switch to represent D’Tigers ahead of the 2028 Olympics,” he stated.

According to the Hova, Bane has also been instrumental in encouraging other Nigerian-heritage NBA players to join the national team project, including Nesmith.

Bane himself publicly declared his interest this year in representing Nigeria during an interview in January 2026.

The Orlando Magic guard explained that he wanted to help gather top Nigerian-eligible players for a serious Olympic challenge.

“We just need to get all the Nigerians together for the Olympics coming up in the next couple years and make something happen,” Bane said.

He also admitted that he had already spoken with other players about joining D’Tigers.

“I’d talk to Aaron Nesmith,” he said.

“Me and Gabe Vincent also talked about it a little bit. We need to do it.”

Meanwhile, journalist Kehinde Bamidele further reported that Onyeka Okongwu remains interested in representing Nigeria under Fizdale.

According to him, “Okongwu remains interested in representing D’Tigers of Nigeria under new head coach David Fizdale.”

The Atlanta Hawks centre previously missed out on a potential invitation due to short notice, but talks are said to be ongoing ahead of the July international window.

Bamidele also reported that Ayo Dosunmu has yet to make a final commitment to Nigeria, although the new coaching crew are keen to convince him.

“Ayo Dosunmu is yet to commit to D’Tigers of Nigeria,” Bamidele wrote.

“Fizdale understands that one of his early priorities will be convincing the Wolves guard to represent Nigeria.”

The guard previously represented the United States at the youth level, winning gold at the 2018 FIBA U18 Americas Championship, meaning any switch could involve additional clearance procedures.

Fizdale has already made clear that qualifying Nigeria for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics remains his biggest ambition as D’Tigers coach.

After his appointment by the Nigeria Basketball Federation on Saturday, Fizdale told ESPN that leading Nigeria to the Olympics in his hometown would represent a career-defining achievement.

Nigeria have previously featured at the Olympic Games in London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 but are still chasing their first basketball medal on the global stage.

Liverpool have released images of a planned memorial to late forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, following their deaths last summer.

Jota, 28, and 25-year-old Andre Silva, who played for Portuguese second division club Penafiel, died in a car crash on 3 July in the Spanish province of Zamora.

The sculpture features a flowing heart design – a nod to the Portugal international’s goal celebration – the two brothers’ shirt numbers, 20 and 30, plus the lyrics to Jota’s song, which is sung by Liverpool fans in the 20th minute at every game.

Titled ‘Forever 20’, the club said, externalit celebrates Jota and Andre Silva’s “lives, their bond, and the love and respect felt by family, team-mates and supporters across the world”.

The memorial, which will be located at Anfield on 97 Avenue, has recycled the physical tributes left outside Anfield since Jota’s death by fans paying their respects and incorporated them into the stone plinth.

Liverpool have not yet announced when it will be unveiled but will reveal the date in the future.

Jota joined the Reds from Wolves in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and two League Cups during his time on Merseyside.

FIFA has announced an 11-member Technical Study Group for the 2026 World Cup, with former players and coaches set to analyse matches and decide the winners of major individual awards during the tournament.

The panel was unveiled on Monday during a virtual media briefing monitored by The Nation ahead of the competition, which begins next month at Estadio Azteca.

The group will be led by FIFA Senior Football Expert Pascal Zuberbühler and includes former Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta, ex-Germany striker and coach Jürgen Klinsmann, Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill, former Ghana coach Otto Addo, Costa Rica legend Paulo Wanchope and Brazilian World Cup winner Gilberto Silva.

Others on the panel are Tobin Heath, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Jayne Ludlow and Aron Winter.

FIFA said the group will also decide the winners of the Golden Ball, Golden Glove and Best Young Player awards during the tournament.

The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams for the first time, with 104 matches scheduled across the competition.

“The TSG captures the heartbeat of global football.

“By blending expert observation with cutting-edge data, this team will provide the official record of how football is played at the highest level in 2026,” a FIFA spokesperson said.