RIO 2016: Nigeria’s D’Tigers Battle Mozambique for Olympic Ticket
Nigeria Men Basketball team D’Tigers[/caption]
Nigeria’s D’Tigers enter the Knockout stage of the AfroBasket 2015 tournament, where they will face Mozambique in a winner takes all game, which sees the winner move into the quarter-finals.
The Nigerian team headed by Coach Will Voigt from the United States will have to be at their best against the experienced Mozambique side with a rich basketball history.
Which is why ex-Nigerian international and Lagos State Basketball Association Chairman, Babs Ogunade came out to say that the Nigerian team will have to prove themselves that they can overcome pressure, despite their poor display against Tunisia.
Advertisement
“Against Tunisia, our team looked so ordinary and Olumide Oyedeji did not provide the cover of a big man.
“The wins against Central Africa Republic and Uganda were just a flash in the pan and I had said before the game against Tunisia that the real test was against the host nation. They could not handle the pressure.”
Another ex-international player, George Bereofore criticized the team’s lack of team work against Tunisia
“Our players were too individualistic in their approach to the game. There was no inside play as we depended more on the three points shots to make the difference for us. It was very clear that we had no big man on the court because Olumide was just not in the game.”
Advertisement
Meanwhile, the Mozambique team boast the impressive Matos brothers who between them are top scorers for their team. However, the Nigerian team finished second place in Group A with just 5 points behind Group winners Tunisia.
Nigeria’s D’Tigers last played Mozambique in the 2012 Olympic games in London with Nigeria winning the tie 60-56.
