D’Tigers coach Udofia confident ahead of South Sudan clash in AfroBasket qualifiers

THE Nigerian men’s basketball national team D’Tigers resume their quest for a 2021 AfroBasket ticket on Wednesday when they face South Sudan in the second phase of the qualifying tournament in Tunisia.

The 2015 AfroBasket champions swept their Group D opponents in the first phase of the qualifiers, beating South Sudan, Rwanda and Mali in Kigali,  Rwanda last November.

They are in Monastir, Tunisia to finish the job, and coach Mfon Udofia is confident.

In the first ever meeting between both teams in November, D’Tigers defeated South Sudan 76-56 in Kigali.

Udofia, standing in for senior coaches Mike Brown and Alex Nwora who are unavoidably absent, believes the team is ready to pick up from where they left off when they play South Sudan.

“We know the importance of qualifying for the 2021 AfroBasket Championships and qualifying well,” Udofia said.

“We don’t just want to qualify, we want to qualify in style as well as ensure that we are on track for the 2020 Olympic Games preparation.”

The 30-year-old Udofia has been with the team since the 2019 FIBA World Cup and he expects the players to be up to the task even in the absence of Brown and Nwora.

“The importance of playing well and continuing our winning tradition cannot be overemphasized,” he added in an interview with NBBF media.

“Since we opened camp on Sunday, we have been perfecting our game plans while in close touch with our senior coaches who are unavoidably absent.”