Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigers will take on Angola on Saturday for the second game of the 2024 FIBA U-18 AfroBasket in Pretoria, South Afrteams
The team’s denial of visas by the South Africa Consulate in Abuja and jetlag was said to have resulted in their poor performance as they lost 70-57 against champions Egypt in their Group B opener on Thursday morning.
The Junior D’Tigers made their North African opponents work hard for defeat by closing out the first quarter with a 17-14 advantage, with Favour Ibe and David Ike scoring dunks against them. Nigeria also used the fastbreak well, scoring seven to Egypt’s zero quarter.
Egypt had to wait until the fourth quarter to defeat Nigeria in the Group B battle at the University of Pretoria’s Rembrandt Hall in South Africa, winning 70-57.
Mohammed Hussin scored 21 points to lead all scorers, while Omar Mowafak of Mohammed Hussin’s team added 15.
Nigeria’s leading scorer was Azeez Sulaimon, who scored 14 points.
Nigeria, which has an equal number of titles as Egypt (6), arrived on the eve of the match without any signs of fatigue.
Egypt’s three-point shooting was their main asset, as 21 of their points came from behind the arc.
The Egyptians had a 37-32 lead going into the half-time break, with Hussin leading all scorers with 11 points.
Nigeria’s start in the third quarter was capped by a 6-0 run to take the lead 38-37, but a Hussin three cooled the momentum of the team.
Egypt’s lead (45-41) was extended by another Hussin three, but Isaac Ezekiel’s bucket and free throws from Favour Ibeti tied the game. Both teams scrapped it out until the end of the quarter, with Egypt taking a slight lead (52-48) going into the final quarter.
Late in the fourth quarter, Egypt gained control of the game with a Hussin mid-range shot, and Omar Aly’s fastbreak dunk, which earned him a technical for hanging on the rim, gave the North Africans a 10-point lead (63-53).
Egypt’s strength proved too much in the end, as they won the game by 13 points.
“I had a good game. It was also a great win for my team. It sets us up well for the rest of the tournament,” said Mohammed Hussin.
With a 2-1 lead in head-to-head, Nigeria are the favorites for Saturday’s tie. Both teams met twice at the 2008 edition, with Angola triumphing 71-65 in the semifinals, while Nigeria gained the upper hand 51-44 in the preliminary round and earlier defeated Angola 64-48 at the 2006 edition.
