Senegal Shock D’Tigers at Home in Lagos

Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, stumbled in their opening game of the qualifier for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France next year.

D’Tiger lost 87-93 to Senegal. 

Playing before a packed crowd at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, the Senegalese whose female team lost the final of the 2023 AfroBasket diadem to Nigeria’s women in Kigali , Rwanda last week, were full of vengeance spirit. They were able to go on a run late closing the first quarter trailing 25-26.

In the second quarter, D’Tigers Head Coach, Ogo Odaudu, rang the changes to slow down Senegal.

D’Tigers were however able to reduce the deficit but still  trailed 46-44 going to the halftime break.

In the third quarter, it  was end to end stuff as D’Tigers were able to claw their way back to take a 68-67 lead.

To start the fourth quarter, Senegal went on a run that changed the game to take a seven point advantage.

D’Tigers responded but were unable to get on level terms as Senegal  were on fire from three point range. Anosike and Metu made late three point shots to cut a double digit lead to three.

Senegal made clutch free throws to hold for a six point win. D’Tigers would now have to defeat Mali in their second group game to stand a chance of progressing to the knock out stages.