Nigeria’s D’Tigers opened the latest FIBA World Cup qualifying window with a tough, come-from-the-match victory, beating Tunisia 84-81 in a closely fought contest.
Key takeaways
- D’Tigers secured a three-point win over Tunisia, 84-81, to begin the qualifying window on a high note.
- Chimezie Metu and Ike Iroegbu topped the scoring for Nigeria with 17 points apiece.
- Wes Iwundu finished with 14 points and Uche Iroegbu added 13 in the high-energy matchup.
- The win keeps Nigeria’s qualification hopes moving in the right direction as the window continues.
- Nigeria still has games scheduled against Guinea and Rwanda, with coach David Fizdale aiming to turn momentum into more results.
Balanced scoring and a tense finish
Chimezie Metu and Ike Iroegbu were the main offensive sparks for Nigeria, each producing 17 points as D’Tigers found a way to control the game’s crucial moments. Wes Iwundu contributed 14, while Uche Iroegbu added 13 to round out a well-distributed scoring effort.
Tunisia and Nigeria traded pressure throughout, with neither side able to create a lasting gap early on. Despite the back-and-forth nature of the match, Nigeria ultimately stayed composed in the final stretch, converting key possessions to secure the narrow margin.
What comes next for D’Tigers
This result boosts Nigeria’s chances of advancing through the qualification process. The current window still includes two additional fixtures, with D’Tigers set to face Guinea and Rwanda in the remaining games.
Head coach David Fizdale will now seek to build on the momentum from this opening win, with the goal of adding more victories as Nigeria continues the qualifying campaign.
