Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, made a powerful statement in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers with a hard-earned 84-81 victory over Tunisia in Luanda, Angola 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.
D’Tigers won the first quarter 23-21, lost the second 20-23 and powered back to win the third and fourth quarters 21-19 20-18 respectively.
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.
