Nigeria ended the first phase of their 2019 African Qualifiers with a comprehensive victory over Mali in Bamako last Sunday.

 D'Tigers defeated the Malians 82-59 in their final Group B first round qualifying campaign, which saw them remained unbeaten after three matches in the race for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.

Led by inspirational captain Ike Diogu who contributed 22 points, 8 rebounds and 1 assist; the Nigerian team won the first quarter 21-5 before Mali fought back to draw the second quarter 16-16.

Nigeria lost in the third quarter by a slim margin 20-21 but put in a dominance performance to complete the game with a 25-17 scoreline in the final quarter.

Other top scorers for the D'Tigers were Obi Emenago with 15 points, Bryant Mbamalu weighed in 14 points, Michael Efevberha had 11 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists, while Christopher Obekpa added 10 rebounds.

Nigeria who won their first-two matches against Uganda and Rwanda, 102-86 and 108-53 respectively, will join eleven other nations in the next phase of the qualifiers which serves off in June.

And according to FIBA, the 12 teams will be engaged in home and away ties to determine the five countries that will proceed to represent Africa at the world cup finals in China.


(Photo: BballNaija on Twitter)

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