2 months ago
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After capitulating 70-57 to Egypt in their opening game of the 2024 FIBA AfroBasket Championship in Pretoria, South Africa, Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigers will be looking to rekindle hopes of progressing when they face Angola in their second Group B game starting at 14:00 at the University of Pretoria’s Rembrandt Hall in South Africa on Saturday (today), PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
A late visa acquisition saw the Nigerians arrive in South Africa on the eve of the game but surprisingly finished the first quarter in the ascendancy (17-14), with Favour Ibe and David Ike delivering dunks against the defending champions. Nigeria also used the fastbreak well, scoring seven to Egypt’s zero quarter.
Due to jetlag, the West African took their feet off the pedal, with Egypt having to wait until the fourth quarter to despatch them, with Mohammed Hussin leading all scorers with 21 points, while his teammate Omar Mowafak contributed 15.
D’Tigers are favourites heading into today’s clash, having beaten Angola twice in their last three meetings, emerging 51-44 victorious against the South Africans at the 2008 edition, where Angola beat Nigeria 71-65 in a later stage, and lost 64-48 to Nigeria at the 2006 edition.
Nigeria are currently third in the standings behind Angola and Egypt, while Uganda are in last position after one round of games.
In the women’s category, the Junior D’Tigress, who are returning for the first time since 2008, made sure to bounce back from their 72-60 loss to Egypt with a win over Zimbabwe in a one-sided encounter that ended 107-30 on Thursday.
A strong 29-5 start for the West Africans, who have called shots in the last four editions of the senior women’s AfroBasket, followed by a 27-7 second period, ensured they headed to the break with enough cushion for coach Juliana Ojoshogu Negedu to rotate her squad, with just one player missing the match.
Zimbabwe, who had Tinaishe Chiedza Daniele Chikwata as their top scorer with 13, played their best basketball in the third quarter but were still outscored 26-12. The final stanza ended 25-6, Nigeria registering their first win of the tournament in Group C.
Idubamo Beggi was, once again, on fire, top scoring for Nigeria with a rare double-double of 20 points and 10 steals, adding 7 assists to her tally. Momoluwa Ayomide Tewogbade added 19 to the tally, pulling down 7 boards, 6 steals, and 4 assists.
Haminatu Ayodeji led Nigeria in rebounding with 12, one more than Abigail Isaac.
Zimbabwe remain winless after two matches.
