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Nigeria's Junior Basketball teams make history in South Africa

Posted : 11 September 2024

Nigeria's Junior Basketball teams in the male and female categories, Junior D'Tigers and D'Tigress, have both shrugged off the initial disappointment of a visa hitch to secure their places in the quarterfinals of the ongoing African U-18 Basketball Championship in South Africa.


Both teams not only qualified for the quarterfinals but also set a new record as the first teams to achieve this feat on the African continent. The Afrobasket U-18 Championship also serves as a qualification tournament for the FIBA Junior World Cup, scheduled to take place in Switzerland.

 


This marks the first time that two Nigerian teams have reached the quarterfinals at this level.


The girls' team secured their quarterfinal slot as one of the best third-placed teams from their group.


J'Tigress will now face Egypt in a game scheduled to take place in Pretoria.


The Nigerian ladies lost their opening game to the Egyptians and now have a second chance to advance.


It is hoped that the players will be in better physical condition after battling the flu before their last group game against Uganda.


The J'Tigers' opponents, however, have not yet been confirmed.


Former D'Tigers power forward and current member of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Ugo Udezue, expressed his joy over the teams' achievements.


He said, "It has been a roller coaster. Our players have faced adversity and are still pushing through. We are extremely proud of our teams and officials."


The boys' team arrived in Pretoria very late after the South African Embassy in Abuja initially denied them visas. They are competing without any financial support from the Ministry of Sports Development, relying instead on private donations.


Two teams are expected to represent Africa in the FIBA U-18 World Cup, scheduled to take place in Switzerland.

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