2023 FIBA AfroCAN: D’Tigers bow to hosts Angola, to fight for last eight place
Nigeria set for Gabon test on Wednesday
Nigeria’s D’Tigers were at the receiving end of a defeat at the hands of their Angolan counterparts, who claimed a 57-48 win in their second group meeting at the ongoing FIBA AfroCAN tournament in Angola.
After a comprehensive win in their opener against Mali, the Nigerian contingent were up against the hosts with direct qualification for the quarterfinals up for grabs. Both teams had defeated Mali in their respective meetings before facing each other.
The hosts were up for the game from tip-off as they dominated the Nigerian team on the floor, opening up a ten-point lead within the first quarter as the D’Tigers struggled to measure up, and the quarter ended 19-9 to Angola.
The second quarter was more of the same from Angola as they extended their lead by nine further points to put the D’Tigers in an impossible situation by half-time as they were down 40-21.
The third quarter saw the D’Tigers perform much better, staying in the game and trying to make things happen. They managed to cut their opponents’ lead to 16 points, with the score 49-33 heading into the fourth quarter.
The D’Tigers finally came alive in the fourth quarter, recording their highest points total of any quarter and restricting Angola to just eight points. Ultimately, it proved to be too little, too late as Angola ran out 57-48 winners.
Michael Afuwape recorded 15 points and ten rebounds for the Nigerian team, and Michael Daramola scored eight points and five rebounds.
Nigeria missed out on automatic qualification for the quarterfinals as Angola joined DR Congo, Kenya and Tunisia in the last eight. The D’Tigers will face Gabon on Wednesday in the classification round for a place in the quarterfinals.
