Basketball

D’Tigers secure impressive victory over Team USA in friendly tournament

By Nsidibe Akpan

Posted on October 6, 2023

Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, the D’Tigers, began their playing tour in China with an impressive 75-70 victory over Team USA. The friendly tournament, scheduled to run from this week until October 20, is a valuable opportunity for the team to further develop and refine their skills on the court.

While the team narrowly missed out on securing a spot for the Paris 2024 Olympics during the qualifiers held in Lagos last August, they remain committed to their growth and development under the leadership of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, headed by Musa Ahmadu-Kida.

This triumph marks the second time that the Nigerian men’s team has emerged victorious over the Americans, following their stunning 90-87 win in a pre-2020 Olympics exhibition game at Mandalay Bay Arena in Las Vegas in 2021.

Vice President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Babs Ogunade, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance.

“It was a good victory because we are building a team, and this is a step in the right direction,” Ogunade commented.

“The win over the US doesn’t mean much, but it is good that we are encouraged and we know that we are making progress consciously as we need to do. It’s not a measure of anything that we beat the US; it’s a basketball game, and we should enjoy the moment as we keep improving on the current set of players.”

Ogunade emphasized the importance of maintaining perspective and not becoming overly complacent, recognizing that this victory is just one step in the team’s journey. The ongoing tour in China is part of an invitational tournament featuring several teams, offering D’Tigers the opportunity to gain valuable experience and continue their upward trajectory in international basketball.