D’Tigers edge Guinea to reach second W’Cup Qualifiers round

Nigeria's D'Tigers have clinched a spot in the second round of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers after a dramatic 80-79 victory against Guinea in Luanda. The win snapped Guinea's winning streak and marked a significant step forward for the Nigerian men's basketball team.

The D'Tigers demonstrated remarkable resilience, clawing their way back from a six-point deficit after the third quarter to snatch a one-point victory. This hard-fought win follows another tense encounter on Thursday, where they defeated Tunisia 84-81. These crucial victories have bolstered Nigeria's qualification hopes after a challenging previous qualifying window, which saw them suffer two defeats.

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Collective and physical toughness down the stretch won us the game.

Under the guidance of their new head coach, David Fizdale, a two-time NBA champion and former Miami Heat assistant, the team has shown a significant turnaround. Fizdale praised his players' "collective and physical toughness down the stretch" for securing the win against Tunisia, acknowledging that while mistakes were made, the team's determination prevailed.

The qualification path continues, with the top three teams from each of the four first-round groups advancing to the second round. This phase is scheduled to take place between August 2026 and February 2027. The twelve qualified teams will then be divided into two groups of six, carrying over their first-round results. Ultimately, the top two teams from each group, along with the best third-placed team, will secure berths at the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar.

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We did a lot of things wrong. We made a lot of mistakes that these guys have never made.