Nigeria’s male basketball national team, D’Tigers’ coach, Mohammed Abdulrahman has revealed the secrets of two majestic victories his side has snatched at the ongoing AfroBasket in Luanda, Angola, where he says continuity is making a difference for them.
Sports247 reports that the soft-spoken basketball tactician was beaming with delight on Friday afternoon, after his players smashed the defending champions and three-time winners, Tunisia, in a huge 87-66 win.
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Houston Rockets of USA ace, Josh Okogie was Nigeria’s hero this time at Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda, as the 26-year-old forward sunk 31 baskets to boost a 21-point win margin for Abdulrahman’s side.
D’Tigers led from beginning to end, with 48-33 at half time and 68-47 after the third quarter, as the 2015 champions kept hope alive that they are on course to pick their second ever AfroBasket trophy.
An excited Abdulrahman disclosed gleefully, “In this team, most of the guys have played together at one tournament or the other. So, they have been able to build a solid relationship.”
With Okogie taking over the show this time from Caleb Agada, who led the way in Wednesday’s victory over Madagascar, Abdulrahman pointed out that there is no single star that D’Tigers rely on to swing the game their way.
“It doesn’t really matter who has a hot hand, who’s playing well, or who’s not playing well. They are always around, available to lift one another and pick up where others are lagging behind.
“Even the bench can pick points. It’s a united ship, and everybody can get a chance to step on the court. Anyone can step up and bring out his best. That’s just how we are built, and that’s how we’ve been,” concluded Abdulrahman.
He and his players are now hoping that can win a second AfroBasket title for Nigeria’s men’s team, who also have a log of four runners-up gongs (1997, 1999, 2003, 2017) and three third placed spots (1995, 2005, 2011).
