The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has unveiled a 12-man D’Tigers squad for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers in Luanda, Angola.

The qualifiers, tagged Window Three, will hold from July 2 to July 5, marking the beginning of a new era under Head Coach David Fizdale.

A statement from the NBBF on Monday said Fizdale will make his competitive debut as D’ Tigers coach, bringing decades of NBA coaching experience and expertise in developing elite basketball talent.

“The coach will lead a blend of experienced internationals and emerging players as Nigeria pursues qualification for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

“The squad comprises Uchenna Ireogbu, Ikenna Ireogbu, Caleb Agada, Martins Igbanu, Paul Dibal and Stanley Okoye.

“Others are Daniel Utomi, Chimezie Metu, Wesley Iwundu, Christian Mekowulu, Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu and Michael Eric,” the statement said.

Nigeria will compete in Group C alongside Guinea, Rwanda and Tunisia in the decisive phase of the qualification campaign.

It stated that NBBF President, Ahmadu Musa Kida, expressed confidence in the team and welcomed Fizdale to his first official assignment with Nigeria.

“Kida described Fizdale as an experienced coach with the leadership qualities required to guide D’Tigers to greater success in Africa and globally.

“He congratulated the selected players and urged them to represent Nigeria with passion, pride and professionalism throughout the qualifiers,” it said

It quoted Kida as saying, “the federation remains committed to attracting world-class coaches and sustaining a high-performance environment for the national teams.

“Fizdale’s appointment followed the successful tenure of former coach Mike Brown, who elevated Nigeria’s profile in international basketball,” he said.

Kida expressed confidence that experienced players, emerging talents and quality coaching would strengthen Nigeria’s qualification campaign.

He urged Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to support D’ Tigers as they represent the country in Angola.

Nigeria will face Guinea on July 3 before taking on Rwanda on July 5 in Luanda

The top teams from the African qualifiers will advance towards qualification for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2027.

United States president Donald Trump will attend the World Cup final and help present the trophy, says Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

Trump, 80, is yet to attend a game at the World Cup, but may still make an appearance before the final on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The World Cup started on 11 June and took place in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

“We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course,” Infantino, now a close friend of Trump, told Fox.

Asked if they would make the presentation together, Infantino added: “Of course, we are together all the time.”

The United States is hosting 78 of the 104 matches at the tournament, which is also being held in Mexico and Canada.

Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House’s World Cup task force, told the Telegraph, external that Trump likes to “leave people watching” and is yet to attend a game because of his busy schedule.

Trump was at the UFC White House event last week, and was recently booed in New York as he became the first US president to attend the NBA Finals, watching game three which the eventual champions the New York Knicks lost 111-115 to the San Antonio Spurs.

Last summer, Trump remained on the winners’ podium at MetLife Stadium after handing the Club World Cup trophy to Chelsea’s Reece James, which caused apparent confusion to some of the players involved.

“They told me that he was going to present the trophy and then exit the stage and I thought that he was going to exit the stage, but he wanted to stay,” said James.

Hydration breaks at the World Cup are “purely a sporting matter” and bring “no additional revenue for Fifa”, president Gianni Infantino has said.

Three-minute pauses midway through both halves of all World Cup fixtures were introduced in an attempt to help players deal with extreme heat during the tournament in North America.

But there has been a mixed reaction to the breaks from players and coaches, while there have been boos from some sections of supporters at stadiums when they have been signalled for by the referee.

Television broadcasters in several countries have shown adverts while the hydration breaks have been in progress – although that is not the case in the UK.

Some matches, such as England’s draw with Ghana on Tuesday, have been played in more comfortable temperatures and others staged inside air-conditioned stadiums with a roof.

Infantino explained that one of the main reasons for having breaks in every match is to create “equal conditions” for all competing nations.

He said: “There is no additional revenue for Fifa, as all commercial agreements were signed well in advance. “This is not a financial issue for us. For us, it is purely a sporting matter.”

Managers and coaching staff are allowed to discuss tactics with their players while the breaks are taking place.

Infantino said: “The main reason for the breaks is the heat, but we also have to understand that in a competition like the World Cup, played over 39 days, with teams potentially playing eight matches in those 39 days, having a moment to rest is extremely important.

“What matters even more to us is ensuring that all teams, in every match, are playing under the same conditions.

“And it’s very difficult to accept that a coach might have the opportunity to influence a match by making adjustments simply because it is hotter, while in another match, where the temperature is slightly lower, the same coach does not have the same opportunity.

“We want to ensure equal conditions for everyone and that’s why these breaks are implemented in every match.”

Experts have told BBC Sport an average 30-second World Cup advertising slot on Fox Sports costs between $200,000 (£152,000) and $300,000 (£227,000), rising to $750,000 (£567,000) during USA matches and the final stages.

That means advertising during hydration breaks is likely to generate more than $250m (£189m) in the USA alone.