D'Tigers Face World Cup Qualification Hurdles After AfroBasket Success
It has been a year of mixed fortunes for Nigeria's senior men's basketball team, D'Tigers. Following a strong showing at the AfroBasket Championship in Angola earlier in 2025, where they decimated fierce rivals Tunisia 87-66 with NBA star Josh Okogie dropping 33 points, the team has hit a stumbling block in their quest for a World Cup ticket. The initial optimism from the continental championship has been tempered by recent results.
In the November window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers, the team suffered back-to-back defeats against Tunisia and Guinea. These losses have raised serious questions about the team's preparation and depth, especially when key NBA players are unavailable. The defeat to Tunisia was particularly painful, serving as revenge for the North Africans after their AfroBasket mauling.
Regrouping Needed
Basketball analysts are calling for a swift reorganization of the technical crew and better logistics from the federation. With the qualification window narrowing, D'Tigers must win their upcoming fixtures to keep their World Cup dreams alive. The focus is now on ensuring that a full-strength squad can be assembled for the decisive windows in 2026.
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I appreciate the effort that went into this piece. While I don't agree with everything, it definitely gave me something to think about.
Interesting perspective, but I think the author is oversimplifying things. The reality on the ground is much more complex than this suggests.