Nigeria's Ikechukwu Nwamu (left), dazzles against Cameroon during their 2017 FIBA AfroBasket quarter-final clash in Rades, Tunis.
NIGERIA’S men’s basketball national team, D’Tigers on Thursday qualified for the semi-final at the ongoing FIBA AfroBasket championship as they spanked Cameroon 106-91.
The defending champions at the Salle Omnisport de Rades, Tunis, recovered from their final group game loss to Congo DR as they also became the first team to bag a century of points at 2017 AfroBasket.
Nigeria coached by Alex Nwora, led the first quarter 25-18 as well as the second quarter 27-25, but the Cameroonians dominated the third quarter 27-23 before D’Tigers came back stronger in the last quarter to win 31-21.
Ikechukwu Nwamu of the University of Nevada, inspired D’Tigers to victory with 25 points, four rebounds, seven assists and one steal as captain Ike Diogu amassed 28 points, Daniel Ochefu recorded 10 rebounds, while point guard Ikenna Iroegbu had seven assists.
D’Tigers, it will be recalled, had ended their group A campaign with victories over Cote d’Ivoire and Mali and 77-83 loss to Congo DR before Thursday’s conquest of Cameroon.
However, Cameroon’s Benoit Mbala emerged man of the match as he made 32 points, 10 rebounds, one assist and three steals.
Africa’s highest ranked team in FIBA world rankings, Nigeria will now face the winner of Senegal and Angola tie on Friday (September 15) for a place in the final of the 2017 AfroBasket as well as automatic slot to the 2018 World Cup in Spain.
Meanwhile, Morocco also on Thursday defeated Egypt 66-62 to qualify for the semi-final for the first time since 1980 when they hosted and claimed a bronze in the competition.
“This is a win for our people back home,” Soufiane Kourodu a few minutes after the historic win told .
“We came to this tournament facing several adversities, but our team spirit and desire to win allowed us to get the win,” he said.
Morocco will face Tunisia who dumped the Democratic Republic of Congo 81-60 for a final ticket also on Friday.
The final of the 2017 AfroBasket holds on Saturday at the SalleOmnisport de Rades, Tunis. http://www.fiba.basketball/afrobasket/2017/news
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