Mark Keenan announces 20-man extended squad for Kosovo and Azerbaijan

Ireland head coach Mark Keenan has selected three uncapped players in an extended 20-man squad for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Pre-Qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Kosovo.

Ireland welcome Azerbaijan to the National Basketball Arena on Thursday, November 21^st for a 17:00 tip-off live on TG4, before taking on Kosovo, also in Dublin on Sunday, November 24^th, with a 17:00 tip-off in a must-win double header.

There’s a first inclusion in an senior squad for Energywise Ireland Neptune’s Darragh O’Sullivan, who is enjoying his first season back in the Men’s Super League after spending five years in the United States, four of which we’re under former Neptune head coach Billy Mimms at Florida Tech. The 6’6” 24 year-old has played at all three levels of youth basketball for Ireland and is joined by his brother Conor O’Sullivan in the extended panel.

James Connaire and James Hannigan are also both in line for their senior international bows. The duo were part of the training squad during the August friendly series with Denmark in Dublin, but missed out on the final 12-man roster for the games. Elsewhere, there is a return for Roy Downey, who last featured for Ireland during the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 qualifying campaign, averaging 9.5 points and 3.5 assists over two games. 

Ireland currently sit in 4^th place in Group A of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 pre-qualifying following an 83-76 defeat against Kosovo and an 86-63 loss to Switzerland in their opening two games of the campaign back in February. The group winner will advance to the second round of qualifying alongside the best ranked second placed team from three groups.  

On the upcoming fixtures, Ireland head coach Mark Keenan said: “We’re very excited for the challenge of back-to-back home qualifiers at the National Basketball Arena. The guys were very competitive in the away fixture with Kosovo in a very intense atmosphere, so hopefully we can make it equally as difficult for them with a big home crowd of our own. Azerbaijan are a really top quality side and beat Kosovo at home last time out, so we are expecting two tough games, but just really looking forward to getting the squad together, getting to work and seeing what we can achieve during the window.    

Tickets for both games can be found here. 

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FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Pre-Qualifying Fixtures:

Ireland v Azerbaijan, Thursday November 21^st, National Basketball Arena, 17:00 (Live on TG4)

Ireland v Kosovo, Sunday November 24^th, National Basketball Arena, 17:00 (Live on TG4)

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Extended Ireland Squad:

Adrian O’Sullivan (Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU), Aidan Quinn (Belfast Star) , Conor O'Sullivan (Energywise Ireland Neptune), Conor Quinn (Belfast Star) Darragh O'Sullivan (Energywise Ireland Neptune), David Lehane (UCC Demons), James Connaire (UCD Marian), James Gormley  (Griffith College Eanna), James Hannigan (UCC Demons), John Carroll (EJ Sligo All-Stars), Jordan Blount (Flexachem KCYMS Killorglin), Matt Treacy (Ibersol C.B Tarragona, Spain), Neal Quinn (Aix Maurienne Savoie Basket, France), Nosayaba Aidan Igiehon, (Joels Dublin Lions), Paul Dick (Killester), Rapolas Buivydas (Garveys Tralee Warriors), Roy Downey (Energywise Ireland Neptune), Seán Flood (London Lions, United Kingdom), Sean Jenkins (Griffith College Eanna), Taiwo Badmus (Valur Reykjavik, Iceland).