Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigers secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the ongoing FIBA 2024 U-18 Afrobasket after defeating Uganda 72-61 in a thrilling contest in Pretoria.
Needing a win to advance to the knockout phase of the Afrobasket, Nigeria came out strong, outscoring Uganda 21-15 in the first quarter. They maintained their momentum in the second quarter, dominating with a 19-11 scoreline to enter halftime with a comfortable 40-26 lead.
Also read: Rwanda’s Ntwari Fiacre named Man of The Match in AFCON Qualifying Draw
Despite Uganda’s spirited effort in the second half, they couldn’t overturn Nigeria’s advantage. Although Uganda was outscored 17-15 in the third quarter, they fought back hard in the fourth, winning it 20-15. However, their late rally fell short against Nigeria’s early dominance.
Azeez Olaitan Sulaimon continued his impressive form for Nigeria, leading the game with 20 points, a game-high 18 steals, six rebounds, and three assists. Ekpo Effiong Bassey and Isaac Oluwatemitope Ezekiel also shone, each recording double-doubles with 13 points and 13 rebounds apiece.
For Uganda, Mukisa Mubiru-Nkugwa led with 17 points but was the only player to score in double figures.
The win places the Junior D’Tigers at the top of the table, though the standings could change depending on the outcome of the Egypt vs Angola game.
