Nigeria’s D’Tigers have qualified for the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China following a blow out win over Central African Republic on Saturday at the Indoor Sports Hall, National Stadium Lagos.
Six D’Tigers scored double digit point as Nigeria thrashed CAR 114-69 in their second Group F game.
Ike Iroegbu (18), Ike Nwamu (16), Ben Uzoh (16), Al Farouq Aminu (12), while Stan Okoye and Alade Aminu both had 11 point apiece.
Aminu was the top performer in the game continuing from where he left off 24hours earlier adding 8 rebounds, 50% of his FG and 4 of 5 from the free throw line in 20 minutes played.
The Central Africans gave a tough fight in the first quarter (25-20) but gradually broke down in the second after D’Tigers recorded their first biggest lead of the tie (46-34) with 1:36 left.
After a back-and-forth first half, the D’Tigers exploded in the second limiting CAR to just 9 points in the last quarter.
Johan Grebongo had 17 points, Destine Damachuoa had 14 points while Max Kouguere made 11 points for Central African Republic.
In other games played in Group F, Senegal beat Mali 82-71 while Coted I’voire bounced back from their loss to Nigeria to beat Rwanda 71-53.
Nigeria and Tunisia became the first teams to qualify for the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China after extending their unbeaten runs to 8-0 in the Second Round of the African Qualifiers on Saturday.
Both teams have amassed a total of 16 points from the 8 games played with 4 game left to play.
Only 5 teams will qualify from Africa, top two teams each from Group E and F and the third best placed team.
In the last round of games to be played on Sunday, Mali will play against Coted I’voire, Rwanda will face Central African Republic while the top best teams in Africa at the moment will come up against each other, number one ranked Nigeria and second ranked Senegal.
Senegal are on a 7 match winning streak after losing their opening game in the first round of the qualifiers.
The last time these two faced each other, Nigeria won the game to , advance to the 2017 FIBA AfroBasket Final.
