By Victor Kanayo
Nigeria’s home-based men basketball team also known as D’Tigers have booked a place at a FIBA AfroCan Basketball tournament scheduled to hold between July 8 and 16, 2023 in Luanda, Angola capital.
The Nigerian team qualified via wild card despite losing their last qualifier match against Cote d’ivoire on Sunday in Abidjan.
The host side, Cote D’Ivoire defeated Nigeria, 74-65 to qualify for the finals of the competition, specifically meant for players plying their trade for African clubs.
The Nigerian team did their best but were overwhelmed by Cote D,’ Ivoire, backed by vociferous supporters.
Despite the loss, FIBA has now granted the most populous African nation an Express entry via Wild card.
AfroCan Groupings
With this development, Nigeria after finishing second will play in the same group B with host Angola and West African powerhouse Mali.
Cote D’Ivoire are in group A with Kenya and Gabon another country that secured FIBA Africa’s wild card.
Group C pitches Morocco, Tunisia and Rwanda, while Group D will parade Cameroon, DR Congo and Mozambique
Remaining Women Qualifier Battle For Afrobasket
On Sunday, Cote D’Ivoire’s national Women’s basketball team also qualified for the finals of FIBA Women’s Afrobasket.
Cote D’Ivoire and Guinea were the only women teams that played for the FIBA Women’s Afrobasket qualifier in zone 3.
Cote D’Ivoire defeated Guinea twice to qualify for the final of FIBA Women ‘s Afrobasket tournament.
The finals of the FIBA Women’s Afrobasket will take place in Kigali, Rwanda from July 28 to August 3.
