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D'Tigers World Cup dream is still alive after victory against Guinea.
Nigeria's senior men's basketball team known as D'Tigers recorded a 62-59 victory against Guinea in a FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifier played at the Pavilhão Multiúsos de Luanda on Saturday, February 25, 2023.
D'Tigers led by Head Coach Ogoh Odaudu had no margin for error in the final World Cup qualifications fixtures.
Following the victory against Côte d'Ivoire, D'Tigers also needed a positive result against Guinea another team above them in the group standings coming into the game.
D'Tigers beat Guinea
Victor Ezeh of the Kwara Falcons who led the team with 18 points in the game against Côte d'Ivoire was again in sensational form in the second fixture.
There was nothing to separate both sides in a low-scoring first quarter with 13 points each.
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Guinea were able to produce a run late in the second quarter to take a four-point lead at the halftime break.
In the third quarter, D'Tigers were unable to make shots as Guinea stretched their lead to nine.
D'Tigers in the fourth quarter were able to erase the deficit with huge stops on defense and execution on plays to make clutch shots.
Odaudus' team were able to produce a 19 to 9 run to take the lead for the first time in the fourth quarter and never looked back.
Ezeh made two clutch free throws while Michael Daramola put the game to bed with a monster dunk as D'Tigers outscored Guinea 23-11 in the fourth quarter.
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Top performers
Cheick Sekou Conde was the star performer for Guinea leading the game in scoring with 25 points.
However, D'Tigers were able to get the victory thanks to balanced scoring contributions from key members.
Ezeh in 19 minutes produced 16 points, as he made five of his seven shots including two of four from three-point range and four of five from the free throw line.
Michael Daramola of Nigeria Customs also had a productive game with 16 points, making four of his six shots, perfect from three-point range, and seven of 10 free the free throw line.
The victory moves D'Tigers into third place in the group phase level on points with Angola and behind Ivory Coast both teams with a game to play later in the day.
D'Tigers now have their own destiny in their hands as a victory against hosts Angola on Sunday, February 26, guarantees a place at the 2023 FIBA World Cup to take place in Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines.
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