Bosnia and Herzegovina suffered a major setback ahead of EuroBasket 2025 as star forward Dzanan Musa confirmed he will not play in the tournament due to health reasons.
The 26-year-old revealed on Instagram that he recently underwent surgery in Munich and his recovery will last longer than expected.
“I want to inform you and the public that due to health reasons, unfortunately, I will not be able to help the guys at the upcoming EuroBasket,” Musa wrote. “It is the first time I am facing something like this, and it is certainly not easy to go through it. A few days ago I had surgery in Munich, and recovery will take a few weeks longer than planned.”
Musa admitted that missing the national team weighs heavily on him. “I don’t need to tell you how much my heart breaks that I will not be there with the guys and fight for our Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he said. “Expectations were and remain huge. I am sure the guys will carry the load as they should. With all my heart, I am with them, and I am sure there will be many more championships where we will go as one united team. A team that gives everything for our homeland.”
Bosnia and Herzegovina face a challenging path in Group C of EuroBasket 2025, drawn alongside Spain, Greece, Italy, Georgia, and host Cyprus. Their campaign begins on August 28 against Cyprus, followed by matchups with Spain, Italy, Greece, and Georgia.
Head coach Adis Beciragic had named an extended 24-man squad in preparation for the tournament, with Musa expected to play a leading role alongside Jusuf Nurkic and Luka Garza. His absence leaves a significant gap in scoring and leadership for the roster.
The loss of Musa, who left Real Madrid to join Dubai BC earlier this summer, raises questions about Bosnia and Herzegovina’s ability to advance past the group stage. Spain and Greece enter as favorites, while Italy and Georgia also pose strong challenges.
Despite the blow, Bosnia and Herzegovina still feature NBA and EuroLeague-caliber talent, with Nurkic anchoring the paint and Garza providing offensive support. Players like Aleksandar Lazic and Xavier Castaneda will now have to step into bigger roles.
EuroBasket 2025 will take place from August 27 to September 14 across four countries: Latvia, Finland, Cyprus, and Poland. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Group C games will be played in Limassol.
