NIGERIA’s D’Tigers dominated Uganda and won 95-69 in a key 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup qualifier on Sunday.
The Nigerian men’s basketball national team raced to their second straight win the first window of the qualifiers in Angola, led by veteran Ike Diogu.
D’Tigers needed victory to top their group and they went about it by getting off to a quick start.
They won the first quarter 25-18 to set the tone for the rest of the game.
The Nigerians followed up with a 28-19 score in the second quarter to take a healthy 53-37 lead into half-time.
D’Tigers did not relent in the third quarter, winning it 14-8, and they wrapped up the big win with a 28-24 score in the fourth and final quarter.Captain Diogu, the 38-year-old star, rolled back the years and contributed a game-high 27 points, adding 10 rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block.
Omotayo Ogundiran followed up his 19 points in the win over Mali on Saturday with 11 points against Uganda on Sunday night.
Keith Omoerah also scored 11 points, along with three assists, five rebounds and one steal.Benjamin Uzoh added 10 points, eight assists, three rebounds, one steal and seven turnovers in the game.
In the other group game, Mali beat Cape Verde 64-58 to seal their second win of the competition.
The Malians are second in Group A behind Nigeria with five points, while Uganda and Cape Verde, who upset D’Tigers in the opening game, have one win each.
