The D’Tigers defeat Tunisia 84-81 in World Cup qualifying

Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, the D’Tigers, on Thursday defeated Tunisia 84-81 in a crucial Group C match of the 2027 FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers in Luanda, Angola.

The victory marked a winning start for new manager, David Fizdale, who took charge of his first competitive match with the team.

The D’Tigers started well, outscoring Tunisia 23-21 in the first quarter before the North Africans responded to claim the second quarter 23-20, leaving the teams tied at halftime.

Nigeria regained control in the third quarter, winning it 21-19, and held their nerve in the final period with a 20-18 advantage to seal the hard-fought 84-81 victory.

The victory significantly increased the team’s chances of progressing in the race for a place at the 2027 FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup in Qatar.

The D’Tigers return to action on Friday against Guinea before concluding their qualifying window against Rwanda on Sunday, with wins in both matches expected to further boost their qualification hopes.