By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The senior national team of Bosnia-Herzegovina faces a steep uphill battle in their upcoming FIBA window, starting the final round of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers, as head coach Dario Gjergja announced a roster heavily impacted by injuries to key stars. The Basketball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, KSBIH, confirmed his selections on Monday.
Carrying a difficult 2-4 record into Group J, the Dragons currently sit at the bottom of the standings, trailing the qualifying zone by two games. To secure a spot in the final stage next summer in Qatar, they must finish in the top three of their six-team group, making their looming fixtures absolutely critical.
Preparation efforts under the 50-year-old Croatian expert are severely hindered by the absence of elite talent, most notably Dubai’s Dzanan Musa and Emir Sulejmanovic, both of whom remain sidelined due to ongoing rehabilitation processes. Gjergja expressed deep regret over their absence, noting that while Musa is expected to return to regular activities in September, neither player will be available until the subsequent FIBA windows in November and February.
Despite these setbacks, the roster features high-profile reinforcement from the NBA. Boston Celtics center Luka Garza and Utah Jazz big Jusuf Nurkic headline the squad, providing essential size, interior presence, and elite experience. The group of invitees additionally includes Xavier Castaneda, Edin Atic, Amar Gegic, Darko Talic, Adnan Arslanagic, Mico Milovanovic, Vojin Ilic, Eman Sertovic, Edin Preldzic, Adin Vrabac, Aleksandar Lazic, Asim Gutic, Amar Alibegovic, Stefan Simanic, Kenan Kamenjas, and Alija Islamovic.
The squad will gather on August 12 in Vlasic to begin intensive training. Their schedule includes a friendly match against Poland in Hrasnica on August 20, followed by a clash against Bosna BH Telecom in Tuzla three days later. These warm-ups lead directly into two pivotal qualification matches, at home against Italy in Tuzla on August 28, and on the road to face Lithuania in Vilnius on August 31.
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