Basketball
D’Tigers Move Close to Retaining AfroBasket Title
BY WOLE OTAYOMI.
Nigeria this Thursday, is on the way to become Africa’s double champion in basketball as D’Tigers, the national men’s basketball team got through to the semi-final stage of the ongoing 2017 Afrobasket championship being co-hosted by Senegal and Tunisia.
Following the earlier victory by the women’s team weeks ago in Mali, the men’s team on Thursday overwhelmed Cameroon 106-91 to get to the semi finals and edge closer to retaining the African title won two years ago.
The team recovered sufficiently from the defeat suffered in their last group game when D’Tiger lost to DR Congo.
The Nigeria team indeed shook off the defeat they suffered in their last group game against DR Congo last time out. Captain of the Nigeria team, Ike Diogu alongside Bryant and Mbabulu recorded more than twenty points each fit the defending champions.
In the other quarter-final already decided, Morocco beat neighbours Egypt, 66-62. Nigeria is expected to face either Senegal or Angola in the semi final scheduled for Friday. Senegal and Angola will meet later on Thursday in the quarter- final to decide who will face Nigeria on Friday in the semi-final.