馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
D'Tigers secure perfect record in FIBA World Cup qualifiers, advance to second round
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
Nigeria's senior men's basketball team, D'Tigers, defeated Rwanda 106-62, completing a flawless qualifying window and advancing to the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers. This victory ensured Nigeria finished the three-game window with a perfect record, having also beaten Tunisia and Guinea. Point guard Uche Iroegbu led the offense with 17 points and seven assists, while Caleb Agada, Ikechukwu Mekowulu, and Stan Okoye each contributed 13 points. Nigeria dominated the game, leading 25-14 after the first quarter and 49-29 at halftime, eventually securing an 80-44 lead by the end of the third quarter. The team had previously secured an 84-81 win over Tunisia and an 80-79 comeback victory against Guinea. Nigeria finished with 10 points, level with Tunisia and Guinea, as the top three teams from each of the four groups progressed to the second round, scheduled between August 2026 and February 2027. The remaining 12 teams will be divided into two groups of six, carrying over their first-round results, with the top two from each group and the best third-placed team qualifying for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar.
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