2023 FIBA AfroCAN: D’Tigers lose to Kenya in 5-8 Classification Round
Nigeria’s D’Tigers ended their campaign at the 2023 FIBA AfroCAN with a disappointing 61-59 defeat at the hands of their Kenyan counterparts in the Classification Round.
Having fallen to a narrow defeat at the hands of DR Congo in the quarterfinals, the D’Tigers found themselves in a Classification Round with three other teams that failed to make it beyond the quarterfinals to determine positions 5-8 in the tournament. They were drawn against Kenya, who had lost to Morocco, for the encounter.
The Kenyans started the better of both teams and quickly registered their quality in the first quarter, holding a 20-13 lead by the end of the quarter. The second quarter saw the D’Tigers come to life, but they could not wipe out the deficit completely, and still trailed 33-31 by half-time.
The third quarter saw the Nigerian boys erase the deficit, ending the quarter with the game back level at 44-44. The Kenyans claimed a narrow advantage in the fourth quarter which was enough to hand them the win in the match, defeating the West African giants by two points.
Michael Daramola scored 14 points and four rebounds, Martins Chimbuo recorded 13 points, eight rebounds and three assists, and Ibe Agu scored 11 points, three rebounds and three assists for the D’Tigers in their final match of the competition.
