Nigerian
National male basketball team, D�Tigers showed their talents by winning
a first ever FIBA Afrobasket Championship on Sunday night in Tunisia
when they beat Angola 74-65.
Nigeria beat rivals, Angola 74 – 65, on Sunday night in Tunisia
when they beat 10-time champions, Angola to win the 2015 African
Basketball Nations Cup. The historic win for D’Tigers also gave Nigeria a
ticket to the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Before Sunday’s final Nigeria has never beaten Angola in nine meetings dating back to 1987. It was never a dull moment in last night’s clash in Rades, the defending champions took the first quarter 13 points to 11 points, Nigeria rallied back and dominated the second quarter 27 points to 11 points.
The third quarter was a tight contest between both sides with Nigeria slightly edging out Angola 14 to 12 points. It will be the second Olympic appearance for Nigeria’s men’s team after the first showing at the London 2012 Olympics.
Chamberlain Oguchi scored 19 points and was voted the Most Valuable
Player of the tournament and was also named in the team of the
tournament alongside teammate, Al-Farouq Aminu.
Captain of the team, Olumide Oyedeji, had said the team was the most talented of the teams that came to Tunisia and that claim was justified even though one of their best players, Ike Diogu, did not play a single minute of the competition because of a twisted ankle.
Afterwards, Oguchi, the MVP, said: “It’s the best moment of my life, to be able to come here after missing the last AfroBasket, to be able to come here and do this with my brothers, it feels amazing. I’m happy to be able to share this moment with them and for me personally, it’s just really great.”