D’Tigers Secure Narrow Victory Over Tunisia in World Cup Qualifier

Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, opened their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African qualifiers campaign with a hard-fought 84-81 victory over Tunisia on Thursday. The Group C encounter, held in Luanda, Angola, served as a successful debut for the team’s newly appointed head coach, David Fizdale.

The match remained tightly contested throughout, with both sides trading leads in a physical encounter. D’Tigers established a narrow 23-21 lead in the first quarter, but the North Africans responded by taking the second quarter 23-20, resulting in a deadlock at halftime.

Returning from the break, Nigeria regained its momentum, edging the third quarter 21-19. The team maintained its composure in the final period, outscoring their opponents 20-18 to narrowly seal the win.

This victory provides a vital boost for Nigeria’s qualification prospects for the 2027 World Cup in Qatar. The team is scheduled to face Guinea on Friday, followed by a final qualifying window match against Rwanda on Sunday. Securing wins in both upcoming fixtures will be crucial for the squad as they look to solidify their position in the group.