Nigeria’s national men’s basketball team, D’Tigers will face a stern test against Angola in their final Group E game on Sunday after outclassing Guinea 89-70 at the ongoing FIBA Basketball World Cup African qualifying window at Palais des Sports de Treichville, SUNDAY, PUNCH reports.
Coach Mfon Udoh’s men bounced back from their defeat to Ivory Coast on Friday to record their third win of the ongoing FIBA qualifiers after losing 78-66 defeat to Ivory Coast.
The game saw an improved performance from the D’Tigers as they comfortably registered a victory at the City Arena in Abidjan.
After racing to a 24-15 points lead in the first quarter, D’Tigers finished the second quarter tied on the same points (20-20) with the Guineans.
However, the third quarter proved decisive for the D’Tigers as they blew their opponents away 32-15 to establish a solid lead going into the last quarter.
Coach Mfon Udoh’s men took their legs off the pedal in the last quarter as the Guineans finished strong 20-13 in the fourth quarter.
The late rally by the Guineans wasn’t enough to deny D’Tigers victory as the Nigerian men held off to their 89-70 ahead of Sunday’s crunch clash against second placed Angola.
The win also boosted the team’s chances of picking one of the five tickets set aside for African teams at the 2023 World Cup taking place from August 25 to September 10 in Japan, Indonesia and in the Philippines.
Amanze Egekeze was the team’s top performer in the encounter as he posted 14 points and three rebounds while the Josh Okogie recorded 10 points six rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks in the victory.
Obinna Metu also churned in 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Meanwhile, Ben Emelogu will miss the rest Sunday’s clash against Angola due to illness. D’Tigers currently fourth in Group E with nine points one adrift Sunday’s opponent (Angola).
Ivory Coast lead Group E with a superior 10 points. Angola and Cape Verde occupy second and third place respectively.
