Nigeria’s Men National Basketball Team, D’Tigers, will not be part of the Olympic games party come summer of next year in Paris after their second defeat at the FIBA Pre-Olympic qualifying tournament.

D’Tigers fell for the second time before a supportive home crowd, 68-77 against Mali, a da after they had been defeated by Senegal at the ongoing event in Lagos.

Mali like Senegal before them rallied from behind – after trailing through the first half – to upset the hosts

From the tip off, Nigeria looked an improved version of the same side that lost to Senegal, imposing their authority on the Malian side early in the game.

Although Mali gradually grew into the game, the Nigeria Players were able to see out the first half with 43-38 points.

The second half continued in a similar fashion and D’Tigers continued to dominate proceedings, however, the opponents showed little signs of actually putting up a fight, but, the quarter ended 61-53.

D’Tigers started the last quarter of the game as if they were in a self-destruct mode, they totally lost control of the match and turned over possession almost willingly and Mali capitalized on it.

It would be the very first time Nigeria would be missing at the Olympic games since 2008.