By Our Correspondent

National News – New D’Tigers head coach David Fizdale has declared that Nigeria’s men’s basketball team must aim beyond merely qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The former NBA coach said his mission is to build a team capable of competing for and winning an Olympic medal, as Nigeria begins a fresh rebuilding process ahead of the global tournament.

Fizdale, who recently took charge of the national team, made the remarks during an interview with M4S TV, where he stressed the importance of setting high standards for Nigerian basketball.

According to him, the team must adopt the same mentality and expectations as global basketball powerhouses like the United States men’s national basketball team.

The coach explained that simply reaching the Olympics would not be enough for the squad if they truly want to grow into a respected basketball nation.

He noted that players currently discussing eligibility and national team commitments are eager to fight for medals rather than just participate in the competition.

Fizdale admitted that matching the achievements of the United States, which has dominated Olympic basketball for decades, will be difficult.

However, he believes aiming high will improve discipline, accountability and long-term development within the squad.

He added that maintaining elite standards could help Nigeria become more competitive internationally.

Nigeria currently sits third in Group C of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers after defeats to Tunisia and Guinea, alongside an overtime victory against Rwanda.

Despite inconsistent performances and administrative challenges, D’Tigers remain hopeful of returning to the Olympics after previous appearances at London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

There is renewed optimism surrounding the team following reports that several NBA stars, including Aaron Nesmith, Desmond Bane, Onyeka Okongwu and Ayo Dosunmu, are open to representing Nigeria under Fizdale’s leadership.