FIBA World Cup Qualifiers: D’Tigers Fall To Cape Verde
Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, started the third window of its FIBA African World Cup Qualifying campaign with a 79-70 loss to Cape Verde, at the BK arena in Kigali, Rwanda.
D’Tigers are the first national basketball team to return to action after President Muhammadu Buhari lifted the ban on basketball in Nigeria. D’Tigers had to take to the court without several of their top stars in action.
Nigeria won the first quarter 15-14, but lost the second 25-1. D’Tigers then bounced back to win the third quarter 21-17. The fourth quarter ended 23-23 as Cape Verde withstood a late come back by the D’Tigers to record a much needed win.
Christian Mekowulu led the D’Tigers with 13 points and 13 rebounds, while Ikenna Ndugba also scored 13 points. Uche Iroegbu scored 12 and Chimezie Metu added 10 points. Ivan Almeida led Cape Verde with 14 points and 13 rebounds as they out-rebounded Nigeria 53-40.
D’Tigers stand-in head coach, Alan Major says the team must take care of the ball when they face Mali in their next game after the 70-79 points loss to Cape Verde at the on-going FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria is on second spot on the table and Uganda were awarded 20 points and a win against Mali, who did not show up for the encounter.
D’Tigers have shown the capacity to bounce back in the qualification series and will hope to do so when they take on Mali in their next fixture, scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 2, 2022.
Highlight of the second half against Cape Verde pic.twitter.com/aE76KsagcY
— #NBBF (@nbbfonline) July 1, 2022
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