Nigeria senior men basketball team wey dem dey call D’Tigers go continue dia waka to win second AfroBasket title as dem go jam Senegal Teranga Lions for quarter-final match wey go shele today for Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda, Angola.
D’Tigers dey hope say dem go keep dia 100% win record for di tournament as dem prepare to face dia Francophone brothers.
Coach Mohammed Abdulrahman and im boys finish top for Group B with six points. Dem first beat Madagascar 77-59, then knack Tunisia wey be defending champion 87-66, and finally beat Cameroon 99-90 to complete dia group stage with three wins.
Di coach talk say, “Our style na to play correct defence, run fast, and score easy basket. We sabi say we no be di biggest team, but we use am as advantage. We dey quick for court, dey press opponent, steal ball, and run go score.”
Senegal start dia campaign with 88-53 win over Uganda, but lose 91-77 to Egypt. Dem later beat Mali 80-70. Even with two wins, dem no qualify straight for quarter-final. Dem come play South Sudan for playoff and win 78-65 to book dia spot to face Nigeria.
Nigeria and Senegal don meet eight times before. Nigeria win five, Senegal win three. First time wey dem meet na 2001, Nigeria win 80-65. Dem beat Senegal again for 2009 semi-final 76-58. Senegal first beat Nigeria for 2013 quarter-final 64-63. Nigeria come win dem again for 2015 and 2017 semi-finals. For 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria win 89-61, but Senegal revenge for 2019 with 84-63 win. Last time dem meet na for Pre-Olympic qualifiers for Lagos, Senegal win 93-87.
Nigeria go depend on Houston Rockets player Josh Okogie, co-captains Ike Nwamu and Stan Okoye wey still dey from 2015 winning team. Caleb Agada dey play important role, and other players don show say dem fit deliver.
Senegal danger men na Jean Jacques Boissy and captain Brancou Badio wey score 31 points against South Sudan. Ibrahim Faye too na strong player wey fit give D’Tigers wahala.
