Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, gave their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 participation hopes after a hard-earned 84-81 victory over Tunisia in the African Qualifiers in Luanda, Angola, on Thursday.
The crucial Group C encounter saw D’Tigers rise to the occasion in what was widely regarded as a must-win fixture, producing a disciplined and resilient performance against one of Africa’s traditional basketball powerhouses.
The victory marked Nigeria’s first win in three qualifying games and provided the perfect start to the third qualifying window under newly appointed head coach David Fizdale, who was taking charge of his first competitive match with the national team.
Nigeria established an early advantage and refused to surrender it throughout the contest with great composure at both ends of the court despite persistent pressure from the Tunisians.
The quarter-by-quarter scores reflected the closely contested nature of the game:
First Quarter: Nigeria 23-21 Tunisia
Second Quarter: Nigeria 20-23 Tunisia
Third Quarter: Nigeria 21-19 Tunisia
Fourth Quarter: Nigeria 20-18 Tunisia
With a total of 84 points to Tunisia’s 81, D’Tigers secured a memorable victory that significantly strengthens their bid to advance in the African qualifying series for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar.
The result also serves as sweet revenge after Tunisia defeated Nigeria during the opening qualifying window, while reaffirming D’Tigers’ credentials as genuine contenders for a place at the global showpiece.
Attention now shifts to Nigeria’s remaining fixtures against Guinea and Rwanda, with victories in those encounters expected to further enhance the team’s qualification prospects.
With confidence restored and momentum firmly on their side, D’Tigers have announced themselves as serious challengers in the race to Qatar 2027, delivering a performance that has reignited hopes of another appearance on basketball’s biggest international stage.