Nigeria’s senior men’s national basketball team, D’Tigers, claimed a resounding 75-70 victory over Team USA in their first game of an ongoing friendly tournament held in China, MySportDab reports
This thrilling encounter unfolded as part of a comprehensive playing tour that commenced this week and will run through October 20.
While the team’s quest to secure a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics ended in disappointment during the qualifiers held in Lagos last August, they are now actively engaged in several developmental programs orchestrated by the Nigeria Basketball Federation, under the guidance of its leader, Musa Ahmadu-Kida.
This victory marks the second time that the Nigerian men’s team has emerged triumphant against the formidable Team USA.
Their first historic win unfolded in a pre-2020 Olympics exhibition game at the Mandalay Bay Arena in Las Vegas in 2021, where they stunned the basketball world with a 90-87 victory.
In response to this exhilarating victory, Babs Ogunade, Vice President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, emphasized the significance of this achievement in the team’s growth trajectory.
He noted, “It was a good victory because we are building a team, and this is a step in the right direction.” Ogunade went on to underline that while the win against the US is certainly encouraging, it should not be overstated as the sole measure of progress.
Ogunade explained, “The win over the US doesn’t mean much, but it is good that we are encouraged and we know that we are making progress consciously as we need to do, but it is not a measure of anything that we beat the US. It’s a basketball game, and we should enjoy the moment as we keep improving on the current set of players.”
The tournament in China is an invitational event featuring a multitude of talented teams. D’Tigers’ victory in this high-stakes game not only boosts the players’ morale but also signifies the continued development and growth of basketball in Nigeria, setting the stage for more remarkable achievements on the international stage.
