Nigeria D’Tigers go face South Sudan for Radès, Tunisia, on Friday for di 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers, as dem dey look to recover from 78-62 defeat wey Cameroon give dem di day before. Di result show say dia attack no sharp well-well and e tighten di race for Group E, wia only one point separate Cameroon from Guinea, Tunisia, Nigeria and South Sudan before di second round.
Cameroon 23-14 first quarter prove say e be di game-changer afta Nigeria don lead 6-2 early. D’Tigers tie di second period 18-18 but dem no fit close di gap. Caleb Agada score 13 points for Nigeria, Efe Abogidi add 12 and Ike Nwamu 10. Josh Okogie add seven points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Cameroon, Yves Missi carry dem wit 24 points, nine rebounds and four blocks.
South Sudan don enta dis match well, because say dem beat Guinea 81-71 for dia second-round opener. Carlik Jones drop 18 points, six rebounds and seven assists, Majok Deng score 14, and JT Thor add 11. Di Bright Stars force 14 turnovers and hold Guinea to 32 per cent from di field. FIBA statistics show say South Sudan dey average 82.4 points per game, while Nigeria dey average 77.1, wit 21.7 assists against 18.3 and 27.5 three-point percentage compared to Nigeria 23.8.
South Sudan na Africa top-ranked team according to FIBA, but Nigeria don win di two meetings wey dem don play before, as dem win di FIBA AfroBasket qualifiers 76-56 for November 2020 and 75-70 for February 2021. Forward Chima Moneke dey come back for im first official senior international game since di 2021 AfroBasket qualifiers. Di top two teams for Group E go qualify direct for di 2027 World Cup for Qatar.
