Turkey dominates Lithuania in World Cup qualifier, coach praises captain Cedi Osman

Turkey's national basketball team delivered a commanding performance, defeating Lithuania 94-66 in a FIBA World Cup qualifier. The Turkish squad, led by coach Ergin Ataman, asserted dominance from the opening minutes, never allowing Lithuania to challenge for the lead. At one point, Turkey held a commanding 28-point advantage, showcasing their superior strength and strategy.

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This evening we once again showed our strength. We played excellent basketball, we started the game excellently both in offense and defense. In offense, we found the right shots, and Omer Yurtseven, Adem Bona and Cedi Osman scored points near the basket. Everyone who came onto the court contributed well to the victory.

This decisive victory marks Lithuania's third loss in the qualifiers, significantly complicating their path to the World Cup. They now likely need to win all five remaining matches to secure a spot. Conversely, the Turkish team is on a seven-game winning streak in the qualifiers. A victory against Iceland on Monday would virtually guarantee their place in the tournament.

Coach Ergin Ataman lauded his team's "strength" and "excellent basketball," emphasizing their strong start in both offense and defense. He specifically praised Omer Yurtseven, Adem Bona, and Cedi Osman for their contributions near the basket. "Everyone who came onto the court contributed well to the victory," Ataman stated, underscoring the team's collective effort towards their World Cup aspirations.

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Our goal is to be in the World Cup, so we continue our journey towards it. The match with Iceland will be very important for us. If we win, we will be 99% sure of our place in the World Cup.

Ataman reserved special praise for team captain Cedi Osman, who celebrated his 200th appearance for the Turkish national team during the game. Osman was the game's top scorer and most effective player, tallying 22 points in just over 20 minutes. "In my opinion, Cedi is the best player in his position in Europe," Ataman declared. "When you put him in the right system, he proves it on the court. He plays great himself, makes his teammates better, and contributes a lot with his positive character."

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First of all, I want to congratulate Cedi. He does an excellent job as captain and gives everything for this team. In my opinion, Cedi is the best player in his position in Europe. When you put him in the right system, he proves it on the court. He plays great himself, makes his teammates better, and contributes a lot with his positive character.

Despite the absence of NBA star Alperen Sengun and the injured Shane Larkin, Turkey's core team, which has been developing for three years and won a silver medal at the 2025 European Championship, demonstrated strong chemistry both on and off the court. Ataman noted the team's ambition and quality, stating, "When everyone puts their ego aside, we can play the kind of basketball we showed today."

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We have big ambitions, but our players also have the necessary quality. When everyone puts their ego aside, we can play the kind of basketball we showed today.