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By Ebenezer Bajela
Home-based Nigerian senior national team D’Tigers began their campaign for a spot in the finals of the 2023 AfroCan Basketball Championship on Friday with a 65-62 defeat to Guinea in the second game of Match Day 1.
The match was played at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Michael Okiki, Ibe Agu, Victor Anthony Koko, Chinedu Chimbou and Victor Ezeh were the starters for Nigeria.
Agu made the first basket for Nigeria from the deep to earn the D’Tigers the first points of the game.
The team continued their impressive start to the game and ended the first quarter with a 20-14 lead.
The second quarter was a struggle for Nigeria from the offensive end and they missed a lot of open shots.
The D’Tigers however threw away their 10-point lead to allow Guinea to go ahead as the first half ended 31-36.
Ogoh Odaudu’s side came out stronger in the third quarter and put up a good fight as the round ended 49-49.
It was another close encounter in the fourth quarter but the Guineans in the last minutes of the game picked up important points to win the game 65-62.
D’Tigers will hope to bounce back today when they take on Benin Republic in the second game of the qualifiers.
The 2023 AfroCan final championship has been scheduled to hold in July in Angola.
