Nigeria’s men’s senior basketball national team, D’Tigers, have gained words of commendation from the country’s governing body for the sport of giants, following their last-gasp victory over Cape Verde on Sunday at the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
Sports247 reports that the president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Engineer Ahmad Musa Kida, was obviously relieved, as D’Tigers pushed aside the lethargy of two straight defeats by Cameroon and South Sudan to whip Cape Verde 100-84.
It was their final game of the fourth window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers, and the win helped D’Tigers remain in the hunt for a ticket to the tournament in Qatar, ahead of which Nigeria stands fourth on the table and will hope to consolidate in the final qualifying window.
The last phase of the qualifiers will take place in February/March 2027, with five African teams set to secure tickets to the FIBA World Cup in Qatar, with D’Tigers still well placed, as the top two teams in each group, alongside the best third-placed across both, will qualify for the global basketball showpiece.
Kida took another look at the performance by D’Tigers on Sunday and, while noting that the win revived their qualification chances, the NBBF boss thanked the players for their effort, as they exhibited commitment and resilience to overcome all challenges in the game.
He disclosed that Nigerians are solidly behind D’Tigres and, while assuring that support for the team remains strong across the country, he posited that everyone will continue praying for them ahead of their next game, with a verdict that the squad can achieve more positive results.
“The federation believes in the team’s ability to make Nigeria proud at the tournament. The players and technical crew must remain focused, stay united and approach the next fixture with renewed determination.
“The welfare of the players is a top priority for the federation. That’s why all necessary support will be provided to ensure the team remains comfortable and well prepared for upcoming matches,” Kida assured.
