Nigeria’s national basketball team, D’Tigers, claimed victory in the China Autumn Basketball Tour, known as the Jishou Rural Commercial Bank Cup, in China.
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The tournament allowed D’Tigers to make their return to action after their exit from the Paris 2024 Pre-Olympic qualifying tournament hosted in Lagos.
In a remarkable performance, D’Tigers defeated some of the world’s highest-ranked basketball teams, including the USA, Serbia, and China, among other participating nations in the friendly competition.
D’Tigers kicked off the tournament with a stunning victory over Team USA, defeating them 75-70.
They followed this with an even more convincing win against Serbia, the world’s sixth-ranked FIBA team, with a score of 81-53.
The impressive run continued with another remarkable win over the host nation, China, to secure the championship title.
This remarkable performance highlighted the potential of Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team on the international stage.
While D’Tigers fell short in their quest to secure a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics during the qualifiers held in Lagos, their participation in the China Autumn Tour represented one of several developmental programs initiated by the Nigeria Basketball Federation’s leadership, led by Musa Ahmadu-Kida.
The China Autumn Tour served as a morale booster for players from both the local league and other leagues worldwide.
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This opportunity was particularly meaningful as it followed the team’s return from a self-imposed ban imposed by the Federal Government in the previous year.
D’Tigers showcased their determination, resilience, and skill while competing against some of the world’s top-ranked basketball teams.
Their victory in the China Autumn Basketball Tour further solidifies Nigeria’s presence in the global basketball arena and demonstrates the potential to continue making waves on the international stage.