By Wakawaka Sports
Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, have been drawn in a highly competitive Group E for the next phase of the FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers, where they will face Cameroon, South Sudan, Cabo Verde, Tunisia and Guinea.
The draw sets the stage for an important qualifying window, with Nigeria opening their campaign against long-time rivals Cameroon on August 27. D’Tigers will return to action a day later against South Sudan before rounding off the first qualifying window with a clash against Cabo Verde on August 30.
Elsewhere in the group, Guinea will take on South Sudan while Tunisia face Cabo Verde on the opening day. On August 28, Cameroon will battle Tunisia, with Cabo Verde locking horns with Guinea. The final round of matches on August 30 will see Guinea meet Cameroon, while Tunisia face South Sudan.
Nigeria will take confidence from their impressive head-to-head record against two of their opening opponents. D’Tigers have won three of their four previous meetings with Cameroon and remain unbeaten against South Sudan, claiming victory in both encounters between the teams.
Cabo Verde, however, has historically posed a stern challenge for Nigeria. The two nations have met six times, with D’Tigers recording just one victory, making the final game of the qualifying window a key fixture.
With qualification for the FIBA Basketball World Cup at stake, D’Tigers will be aiming to make a strong start against Cameroon and South Sudan before seeking to improve their record against Cabo Verde in what promises to be a fiercely contested Group E campaign.
