Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigers will face Angola on Saturday for the second game of the 2024 FIBA U-18 AfroBasket in Pretoria, South Africa.
The team couldn’t overcome the stress of initial visa denial by South Africa Consulate in Abuja, as they were defeated 70-57 by the Champions Egypt in their Group B opener on Thursday morning.
Junior D’Tigers forced their North African rivals to sweat for victory by finishing the first quarter in the ascendancy (17-14), as Favour Ibe and David Ike delivered dunks against their opponents.
Egypt fought until the fourth quarter to despatch Nigeria, 70-57 in the Group B battle, at the University of Pretoria’s Rembrandt Hall in South Africa.
Mohammed Hussin led all scorers with 21 points, while his teammate Omar Mowafak contributed 15, Azeez Sulaimon was Nigeria’s scoring leader with 14 points.
Nigeria, sharing an equal amount of titles as Egypt (6), showed no signs of travel fatigue, having arrived on the eve of the match.
Egypt focused on their three-point shooting, as 21 of their points came from behind the arc.
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Heading to the half-time break, the Egyptians led 37-32, with Hussin leading all scorers with 11 points.
Nigeria started the third quarter with a 6-0 run to take the lead 38-37, but a Hussin three humbled Nigeria’s hot start.
In the fourth, Egypt gained control of the game with a Hussin mid-range shot, and Omar Aly’s fastbreak dunk, which earned him a tech for hanging on the rim, gave the North Africans a 10-point lead (63-53).
Egypt proved too strong in the end, as they took the game by 13 points.
“I had a good game. It was also a great win for my team. It sets us up well for the rest of the tournament,” said Mohammed Hussin.
Nigeria leads 2-1 head-to-head as they head into Saturday’s tie as favourites.
Both teams have met twice at the 2008 edition, Angola winning 71-65 in the semifinals, while Nigeria defeated them 51-44 in the preliminary round have earlier triumph over Angola 64-48 at the 2006 edition.
