D’Tigers defeat South Sudan 76-56 in Afrobasket qualifiers
By Emmanuel Awosika
Nigeria’s national basketball team D’Tigers started their Afrobasket qualifying campaign in winning fashion, defeating South Sudan in Kigali on Thursday.
D’Tigers began the contest strongly, winning the first quarter 22-17 against their North African counterparts. They maintained the same tempo in the second quarter and won 24-12.
The South Sudan team tried to claw their way back into the game in the 3rd quarter and cut the deficit to 20-15. But the Nigerian team were too much to handle and ran out winners after taking the 4th quarter 15-7.
Caleb Agada, who plays for Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva, was the most outstanding player for D’Tigers, finishing with 16 points, two rebounds and two blocks.
However, teammate Ike Ireogbu was D’Tigers most efficient player and finished with the game with 13 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, and one steal.
Nyang Wek led the South Sudan team with 10 points and seven rebounds.
D’Tigers captain Ike Diogu said after the match: “It was very important to win our first game, this is the first time we’ve been together as a group, practice time has been limited so this is actually our first time of action, it was good to get our feet wet.”
On his part, Head Coach Mike Brown said: “For two no contact practices, they did a good job adapting to my style and I think they did very well, there are obviously things you can always clean up on. It is a good win for us.”
D’Tigers will face host country Rwanda in their next game of the Afrobasket qualifying campaign.
