PANAMA CITY, Panama (August 29, 2022) – Canada Basketball announced Monday a roster update for the Senior Men’s National Team ahead of their upcoming game to conclude the fourth window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers.

Trae Bell-Haynes, Abu Kigab and Jean-Victor Mukama have been added to the roster for tonight’s game for Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Cory Joseph who are unavailable.

Canada will face Panama tonight, August 29 (8:10 p.m. ET), live on Sportsnet.

Appearing in four games for Canada during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers, Bell-Haynes is averaging 6.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists, while Mukama scored three points and added five rebounds against the U.S. Virgin Islands during the second window as he made his Senior Men’s National Team debut.  Having won gold with Canada at the FIBA U19 World Cup 2017, Kigab will be looking to make his first Senior Men’s appearance Monday night in Panama.  

Canada (7-0) remains the only undefeated team in the Americas after defeating Argentina 99-87 on Thursday at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria.  

Canada can qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 tonight with a win over Panama, a Venezuela victory over Dominican Republic and if Bahamas defeats Argentina.

Canada is in Group E for the Second Round along with Venezuela (6-1), Argentina (5-2), Dominican Republic (5-2), Panama (2-5), and Bahamas (2-5).  

In the Second Round, the 12 teams have been divided into two groups of six. The teams that advanced from Groups A and C of the first phase, now make up Group E and those that come from Groups B and D, will make up Group F. The three best in each group and the best fourth place will move on to the World Cup.  For additional information on the format of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers, click here.   

Eighty national teams will play games across six qualifying windows to secure their place among the 30 teams who will join hosts Japan and the Philippines in the 32-team edition of FIBA’s flagship event.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, set to take place from August 25 to September 10, 2023, will see the Group Phase take place in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. The Final Phase will follow in the Philippines capital city of Manila.

Canada is currently ranked 18th in the FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike.

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For more information, contact:
Matt Walker, mwalker@basketball.ca