D’Tigers earned a hard-fought 75–69 win over Rwanda on Sunday, giving Nigeria their first victory in the ongoing qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA World Cup.
Gatekeepers News reports that the game, played at Salle Multidisciplinaire de Radès in Tunisia, went into overtime after both teams battled closely through regular time. Nigeria, which had previously lost to Tunisia and Guinea, finally broke its losing streak with the six-point triumph.
The team had opened the qualifiers poorly, struggling with turnovers and weak defensive and offensive play. That poor start showed again as Rwanda dominated the first quarter 21–12. Nigeria improved in the second quarter and cut the deficit to 27–25 by halftime.
D’Tigers took control in the third quarter and moved ahead 45–36, but Rwanda rallied in the final stretch to force overtime.
Nigeria, however, held firm during the added minutes and closed out the game to keep their qualification chances alive. They now sit third in the group with one win in three matches.
All teams in the group will face one another again in the second qualification phase. The top three will move forward to the final round, and Africa’s top five teams will eventually qualify for the World Cup which will be held in Qatar from August 27 to September 12.
