Izuchukwu OkosiNigeria’s men’s basketball national team, D’Tigers on Friday ended Côte d’Ivoire’s unbeaten run to boost their 2023 World Cup qualification hopes’.
Friday’s game was Nigeria’s first of three games in the final qualifying window (second round) in Group E for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Nigerian side predominantly made up of home-grown talents defeated the Ivorians 72 points to 63 in the tense game in Luanda, Angola.
Cote d’ Ivorie have already booked their place in the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup from 25 August to 10 September that will be co-hosted by Japan, Indonesia and Philippines.
READ ALSO: D’Tigers Redeem 2023 FIBA World Cup Hopes, Beats Guinea In Qualifier
The Ivorians went into the game against the Nigerians on the back of a seven straight victories.
Prior to the start of the second round, Nigeria were third on the log after a win and two defeats in the first qualifying window which was held in November 2022.
On Saturday, February 25 will see D’Tigers in a clash against francophone west African side, Guinea.
The Nigerian team will round off the final qualifying round against hosts Angola on Sunday, 26th February.
The two-best placed teams from Group E and F and the best third-placed team will qualify for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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