Nigeria’s D’Tigers booked their spot in the quarterfinals of the ongoing FIBA Afrobasket after a hard-fought 99-90 victory over Cameroon in their final Group B clash at the Pavilhão Multiusos de Luanda, Angola, on Sunday.
The win means Nigeria finished the group stage unbeaten, having earlier recorded victories over Madagascar and defending champions Tunisia.
Both sides went into the decisive encounter knowing that a win would secure top spot in the group and an automatic quarterfinal berth, while defeat would force them into the qualification pathway.
The opening quarter was tightly contested, with the D’Tigers edging it 28-27. Nigeria then shifted gears in the second quarter, outscoring Cameroon 32-16 to open up a commanding lead.
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Caleb Agada and Christian Mekowulu were standouts for Nigeria, contributing 12 points apiece, while Yves Ouwe-Missi and Jeremiah Hill kept Cameroon in the game with 13 and 12 points, respectively, by halftime.
Nigeria outscored Cameroon 26-12 in the third quarter to open up a commanding 31-point advantage heading into the final period. Despite outscoring Nigeria 37-15 in the fourth quarter, Cameroon’s late surge wasn’t enough to overturn the deficit, as the D’Tigers held on for a 99-90 victory.
Six Nigerian players hit double figures, but it was Josh Okogie who once again set the tempo for the D’Tigers, leading the team for the second straight game.
The Houston Rockets guard was like the engine of the squad, powering them forward with 16 points, seven assists, two rebounds, and two steals. Caleb Agada followed closely, delivering 15 points, six rebounds, four assists, and a game-high five steals, acting like the glue that held Nigeria’s offense and defense together.
Veteran Stan Okoye added his steady hand with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Christian Mekowulu and Ike Nwamu chipped in 12 points each. Martins Igbanu rounded out Nigeria’s balanced scoring with 10 points.
For Cameroon, four players also reached double digits. Fabien Ateba led all scorers with 19 points, while Yves Ouwe-Missi dominated inside like a wall in the paint, finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds, and a game-high four blocks. Jeremiah Hill contributed 16 points, and Samie Gbetkom added 13, but their efforts fell short in the loss.
With the automatic ticket secured, D’Tigers will now enjoy two rest days before returning to action in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
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