Nigeria’s D’Tigers on Sunday beat Uganda 95-69 to lead in the first round in Group A of African Qualifiers for 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The Nigerian team, after their opening 71-79 loss to Cape Verde on Friday when the window one of the matches began, had gone on to beat Mali 72-70 on Saturday.
The resurgence saw them taking control of the group on Sunday with an overwhelming defeat of the East Africans.
The team took the game by the cuff from the jump-ball at the City Arena in the Angolan city of Benguela by winning the first quarter, 25-18.
The second quarter was almost a replica of the first, with a 28-19 win, while D’Tigers strolled through the third quarter 14-8.
The fourth quarter saw the Ugandans fighting back to restore prestige, but the Nigerian side were unstoppable, winning 28-24.
Team leader, Ike Diogu was again inspirational with 27 points and 10 rebounds.
Sixteen African teams are competing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers through five tournament windows over 15 months.
The qualifiers run from November 2021 to February 2023, with five African national teams earning a spot in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
The World Cup is scheduled for August 25 to September 10, 2023, in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines.
The second window of the first round of qualifiers will open in February.
Via NAN.
