Nigeria’s national Basketball team, D’Tigers’ captain, Ike Diogu has stated that the 2015 AfroBasket champions will seize every opportunity at their disposal to qualify for the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China after recording two straight wins at the qualifiers in Bamako, Mali.
The Nigerian team has defeated Uganda 102-86 and Rwanda 108-53 in their opening two games of the qualifying tournament and will face hosts Mali in their final group game on Monday.
D’Tigers, who are 2017 AfroBasket runners-up, must secure a top three finish in their group in the African Qualifiers to advance round two tournament billed for June/July.
“No team here is a pushover and that is why we can’t afford to lose focus,” Diogu, who recorded 19 points and seven rebounds in Nigeria’s triumph over Uganda and followed that up with 12 points against Rwanda, told FIBA.com.
“Every team in the qualifiers has the equal opportunity of going through to the next round but as a team, we take it one game at a time.
“Every game is important to us, knowing that our ultimate ambition is getting a ticket for the World Cup in China. It’s not going to be easy but we’ll get there.”
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
