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FIBA AfroCan tournament: D'Tigers aim to redeem image against Gabon

Posted : 11 July 2023
D’Tigers will be expected to earn a win against the Gabonese when both team squares up to determine qualifications to the quarter-finals of the ongoing FIBA AfroCan tournament in Angola.

D'Tigers of Nigeria had ensured a bright start to the campaign on Sunday when they defeated Mali.

However, a sloppy game against Angola in the second match on Monday means the team could lose the quarter-final ticket except a win in the next match against Gabon.

Angola on Monday defeated D'Tigers 57-48 to progress to the 2023 FIBA AfroCan quarterfinals having recorded two consecutive wins over Mali and Nigeria. 

The home-based Nigerian team will have to go through the classification round route for a chance to make it to the quarterfinal.

D’Tigers were undone by their sloppy start in Monday’s contest, as the Angolans had built a 19-point lead at halftime, which they never relinquished.

Kanyisola Odufuwa got Nigeria’s only lead with a two-point play, but Glofate Buiamba’s three-pointer put Angola in the lead, and they never looked back.

Though Nigeria rallied to narrow the deficit to a single digit in the last two minutes of the game, it was not enough to deny the host the victory they needed for an early qualification for the quarterfinal stage.

Michael Okiki was the top performer for Nigeria against the Angolans, recording a double-double of 15 points and ten rebounds.

Coach Ogoh Odaudu acknowledged Nigeria’s performance was not the best and needed to be improved.

“The game against Angola was tough. We dug ourselves into a hole early in the first two quarters, and we just couldn’t find our way out. 

``You don’t expect to win a basketball game by committing 23 turnovers and giving up 15 offensive boards. We have to do a good job of protecting our board and knowing how to start the game strong. 

``We lost, and we lost very well,” he said.

D’Tigers will face Gabon on Wednesday at 1 p.m. as they seek a route into the quarterfinals.

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