Nigeria kept their 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup campaign alive by defeating Cape Verde 100-84 in a convincing performance that lifted D’Tigers’ qualifying record to 5-4. David Fizdale’s team now has three matches remaining in the next qualifying window.
Caleb Agada led the way with 26 points, converting eight of his 11 attempts from beyond the arc. That total established a new African World Cup Qualifiers record for three-pointers in a game, eclipsing the previous best of seven. Agada also filled the stat sheet with seven assists, four rebounds and one steal.
Josh Okogie narrowly missed a triple-double after finishing with 15 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, while adding four steals. Nigeria captain Ike Nwamu supplied 14 points and Efe Abogidi scored 11.
D’Tigers seized command from the opening quarter, moving 23-9 ahead after 10 minutes and carrying a 52-35 lead into the interval. Cape Verde found greater attacking rhythm in the second half, but Nigeria had built a sufficiently large cushion to hold on comfortably.
Fizdale said reaching five victories was a significant step in Nigeria’s bid to qualify. He told his players that securing that mark would put them close to achieving their objective when the competition resumes.
“That result was essential because it kept us in contention and gave us an opportunity,” Fizdale said. “I told the players that five wins would leave us close enough to qualify in the next window.”
The coach was also encouraged by the team’s accuracy from three-point range after Nigeria struggled to convert in the opening two games of the window. “I was very pleased that we finally started making threes, having been unable to hit our shots in those first two games,” he said.
Okogie likewise maintained that Nigeria’s qualification hopes had not disappeared, even though the team managed only one victory in its three games during the window. He acknowledged that a 1-2 record was below expectations but stressed that D’Tigers remained close enough to challenge.
With three qualifying fixtures still to come, Nigeria will continue the campaign knowing that a place at the 2027 World Cup remains within reach.
