D’Tigers Beat Tunisia 84-81 to Boost World Cup Hopes

D’Tigers defeated Tunisia 84-81 in a thrilling encounter on Thursday in Luanda, Angola, reviving their hopes for the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualification. This victory came after two previous defeats in the qualification window, including an 88-78 loss to Tunisia on home soil.

The match was closely contested, with Nigeria taking a slight lead in the first quarter (23-21) and Tunisia responding to level the game at halftime. Nigeria regained control in the third quarter (21-19) and held on to win the final period (20-18).

This victory moved Nigeria to third place in their group, tied on points with Tunisia and two points behind group leaders Guinea. D’Tigers will next face Guinea, knowing a win could significantly boost their chances of progressing to the next round.

This match marked the first game for new head coach David Fizdale, a two-time NBA champion and former Miami Heat assistant coach, who praised the players' resilience despite acknowledging areas for improvement.