D’Tigers lose to Senegal 93-87 in their opening match of the FIBA Olympic pre-qualifying tournament, the first round of playoffs for a ticket to the basketball event of the Paris 2024 games.
D’Tigers Head Coach, Ogoh Odauda named a starting five of Ike Nduga, UC Iroegbu, Daniel Utomi, Chimezie Metu and Micheal Eric.
The Nigerian starting five quickly got into the groove with back-to-back three-pointers from Metu but the Senegalese eventually settled into the game as Nigeria only edged the first quarter by a point 26-25.
Senegal continued from here they stopped as they returned for the second quarter the better side to make it a two-point game 46-44 at halftime.
D’Tigers however got their groove back in the third quarter and retook the lead 68-67 but it was the Senegalese who ran riot in the fourth quarter as they opened a 10-point lead on Nigeria’s D’Tigers. A late rally from Nigeria which sought to overturn the looming defeat was not enough as Senegal won by 5 points.
