Nigeria’s D’Tigers lost to Cape Verde 79-70 in the Group A first round of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification in Rwanda on Friday.
The defeat comes barely a week after the Nigerian Government lifted the ban on basketball in the country.
The ban meant that the national teams will have to withdraw from representing the country in international competitions.
However, in a shocking turn of events, the ban was confirmed to be lifted on Wednesday, June 23, 2022.
The D’Tigers started the game well and ended the first quarter with a narrow 15-14 lead before Cape Verde turned the screw in the second quarter.
The Blue Sharks ended the first half with a 39-26 lead over their West African opponents.
It was D’Tigers’ performance in the second quarter haunted the team despite a spirited effort in the second half, 21-17, 17-17pts
Ikenna Ndugba and Christian Mekowulu led the scoring for D’Tigers and Uchenna Iroegbu contributed 12 points. Mekowulu picked 13 rebounds while Benjamin Emelogu had 4.
The D’Tigers lost only their second-ever match against their Cape Verdean counterparts. They will continue their FIBA World Cup Qualifiers against Mali and Uganda in the next two days.
After four rounds of games, Cape Verde top Group A on six points while D’Tigers also on six points are second.
In third position is Uganda also on six points and Mali are fourth on five points.
