D’Tigers Fall to South Sudan 82-79 in Qualifiers

On August 28, 2023, the D’Tigers of Nigeria faced South Sudan in the second round of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers, suffering a narrow defeat of 82-79 at the Salle Multidisciplinaire de Radès in Radès, Tunisia. South Sudan started strong, establishing a 30-19 lead by the end of the first quarter after a 9-0 run.

Nigeria, led by Caleb Agada, mounted a comeback, turning a 43-41 deficit into a 48-43 lead in the third quarter. However, South Sudan regained control, with Okogie leveling the score at 70-70 before Wenyen Gabriel's hook shot restored the Bright Stars' lead.

Marial Shayok was the standout for South Sudan, scoring 19 points, while Okogie was Nigeria's top scorer with 14 points. This defeat followed Nigeria's earlier loss to Cameroon (78-62) in their opening game of the second round, leaving them with a challenging path ahead as they prepare to face Cape Verde on Sunday.