Nigeria’s D’Tigers ended Guinea’s winning streak in Group C of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers with an 80-79 victory in Luanda on Friday, a result that secured their progression to the second round of the qualifying series, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Nigerian men’s team went into the contest on the back of another tense 84-81 win over Tunisia on Thursday. Against Guinea, D’Tigers found themselves six points down after the third quarter but clawed their way back to snatch victory by a single point.
D’Tigers now join Guinea among the teams through to the second round, with their final Group C fixture against Rwanda coming up on Sunday, July 5.
Thursday’s win over Tunisia had already boosted Nigeria’s qualification hopes, coming after two defeats in the previous qualifying window.
Tunisia had beaten Nigeria 88-78 after overtime in the reverse fixture in November, but D’Tigers turned the tables in Luanda under new head coach, David Fizdale, taking the first quarter 23-21 before Tunisia levelled matters with a 23-20 third-quarter response. Nigeria regained control after the break, winning the third quarter 21-19 and holding their nerve in the final period, 20-18, to complete a three-point win. Related News Trabzonspor report Al Ahli to FIFA over Onuachu transfer Fulham submit fresh €28m Nwaiwu bid Sabalenka sets up Wimbledon last-16 clash with Osaka
