NIGERIA’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, have crashed out of the ongoing FIBA AfroBasket Championship in Angola, following a disappointing 91-75 defeat to Senegal in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
News Point Nigeria’s Sport reports that the loss, which came at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda, not only ended Nigeria’s quest for a podium finish but also denied the team a chance to claim the $100,000 cash reward pledged by President Bola Tinubu for medal-winning performances.
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D’Tigers began the game brightly, showing flashes of the form that saw them dominate Group B with three straight victories in the preliminary round.
The Nigerians edged the first quarter 24-23, sparking hopes of another commanding display.
However, Senegal wrestled control in the second quarter, outmuscling D’Tigers and opening a significant lead.
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By halftime, the scoreboard read 53-42 in favour of the Senegalese, leaving Nigeria struggling to chase the game.
The third quarter proved disastrous for the Nigerian side, with Senegal stretching their lead beyond 20 points.
Despite late attempts at a comeback, D’Tigers failed to recover as Senegal closed out the game with a convincing margin.
The defeat sends Nigeria into classification matches to determine their final standing in the tournament.
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It marks another setback for a team that had raised high expectations after their flawless group-stage performance.
Unlike their female counterparts, D’Tigress, who recently claimed their fifth consecutive AfroBasket Women’s title, the men will return home without silverware and without the $100,000 presidential reward earmarked for continental champions.
