In a thrilling matchup at the FIBA AfroCan tournament on Sunday, Michael Afuwape emerged as the hero for the Nigeria National Men’s Basketball team, leading the D’Tigers to their first-ever victory in the competition.
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After a disappointing performance in the inaugural edition of the tournament in Mali back in 2019, where they lost all their matches, the D’Tigers began their campaign in the 2023 AfroCan tournament in Angola with a resounding win.
Facing off against Mali in their tournament opener, D’Tigers displayed great determination and skill, ultimately triumphing over their opponents with a scoreline of 73-69.
Despite a valiant effort from the Malian team in the final moments of the game, Nigeria maintained control and secured a hard-fought 62-56 victory. Impressively, Nigeria never trailed throughout the match, leading by as many as 14 points at certain stages.
The key contributors for Nigeria in their opening game were captain Michael Afuwape, Chimbuo, and Ibe Agu, who collectively amassed an impressive 41 points.
They were the only three Nigerian players to achieve double-digit scores, with Afuwape leading the way with 16 points, followed closely by Chimbuo with 15 points, and Agu with 10 points.
Afuwape’s exceptional performance also included four rebounds, four assists, and two steals, earning him the well-deserved title of the Man of the Match.
On the Mali side, Benke Diarouma and Ousmane Traore were the standout performers, both achieving double-digit scores with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
However, Mali struggled with turnovers, committing 25 throughout the game, which Nigeria capitalized on to maintain their advantage and secure an additional 27 points.
Although Mali’s starting lineup faltered in their leadership, their bench players displayed an active presence by contributing 28 points, accounting for half of Mali’s total score.
Despite their commendable effort, Mali now finds themselves with a disappointing 0-2 record.
They will have an opportunity to redeem themselves in the classification round on Wednesday, where they will need to regroup and strategize in order to stay in the tournament.
Reflecting on the hard-fought victory, D’Tigers point guard Afuwape expressed his team’s satisfaction with the win against Mali, acknowledging the challenges that come with tournament openers.
He recognized Mali’s resilience throughout the game, as they continuously fought back and never gave up.
Afuwape emphasized the importance of minimizing turnovers moving forward, a key aspect the team needs to address to ensure success in future matches.
The 2023 AfroCan tournament, which commenced on July 8, is set to conclude on July 16 in Angola. With their opening triumph, Nigeria has set a positive tone for their campaign and aims to build on their success as they progress further in the tournament.
