Nigeria’s D’Tigers suffered a disappointing exit from the 2023 FIBA AfroCAN tournament in Luanda, Angola, after a narrow 74-72 loss to defending champions DR Congo in their quarterfinal clash.
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After an impressive victory over Gabon in the Classification Round, the D’Tigers faced a formidable DR Congo team that had defeated them 81-55 on their way to winning the title in 2019.
The Nigerian team had a sluggish start, allowing DR Congo to dominate the first quarter right from the tip-off. At one point, DR Congo held a commanding 13-2 lead. The first quarter concluded with the reigning champions in control, leading 31-19.
In the second quarter, the D’Tigers regrouped and fought their way back into the game, narrowing the deficit. They entered halftime trailing 45-37 but showed resilience and determination to stay in the contest.
After the break, DR Congo returned with renewed energy, but the D’Tigers were prepared to match them on the court. The Nigerian team managed to level the match at 52-52 before DR Congo pulled ahead once again. However, the D’Tigers refused to back down, remaining competitive throughout the third quarter, which ended with a score of 59-54 in favor of DR Congo.
Entering the crucial fourth quarter, the Nigerian boys continued to fight, aiming to mount a comeback. However, the experience and quality of DR Congo proved to be decisive as they held on to a slim two-point lead, fending off the D’Tigers’ late surge.
Kanyinsola Joseph emerged as the top scorer for the D’Tigers, contributing 23 points and five rebounds. Martins Chimbuo also made a notable impact with 12 points and nine rebounds, while Abimbola Adebayo added 11 points and four rebounds. Despite their efforts, the Nigerian team reached the end of their journey in the tournament.
It was a tough defeat for the D’Tigers, as they had shown glimpses of their resilience and determination throughout the game. However, the experience and quality of the defending champions proved too much to overcome.
Though their AfroCAN journey came to an end, the D’Tigers can take pride in their performances and the valuable experience gained from the tournament. They will undoubtedly look to learn from this setback and regroup as they continue to strive for success on the international basketball stage.
