TheCable

D’Tigers have defeated Guinea 89-70 to return to winning ways in the fourth window of the ongoing FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

The Nigerians produced a fitting response after their underwhelming loss to Ivory Coast on Friday.

The team was ruthless against the Guineans in the feisty encounter at the Sports Treichville in Abidjan on Saturday.

Nigeria began the game with Josh Okogie, Chimezie Metu, Uchenna Iroegbu, Micheal Gbinije and Amaze Egekeze, and the lineup embodied the renewed determination of the squad.

D’Tigers wrestled control of the game from the tip-off and took the first quarter by 24-15.

The Guineans returned revitalised for the second quarter, matching the Nigerians for points and turnovers but the score leaned 44-35 for D’Tigers at halftime.

In the third quarter, Nigeria resumed their domination and blew the opponents away with a 26-point lead at the end.

The Nigerians took their legs slightly off the pedal in the final quarter but they had done more than enough to register the vital victory.

Egekeze led D’Tigers with 14 points and three rebounds, followed by Metu with 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

D’Tigers remain fourth in Group E after three wins in six games.

Nigeria will face Angola on Sunday in the last game of the fourth qualification window before the final round in February 2023.

Only the top two teams from the group will book automatic tickets to the FIBA 2023 World Cup billed for Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines between August and September 2023.