After a 70-57 defeat to Egypt in their opening game of the 2024 FIBA AfroBasket in Pretoria, South Africa, Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigers secured a crucial 70-65 win against Angola in their second game.

The Nigerian team had a strong start, leading the first quarter 20-18.

They extended their lead in the second quarter, 12-6, but faltered in the third, losing 15-25.

However, they bounced back in the final quarter, sealing the victory with a 23-16 performance.

Nigeria v Angola during a group stage game at the 2024 FIBA U18 AfroBasket. Photo | X (BballNaija)

Up next for the J’Tigers is a game against Uganda, scheduled for Tuesday, September 10.

Challenges Before the Tournament

The Nigerian team faced a significant challenge before the tournament began.

The South African Consulate in Abuja initially denied their visa applications, putting their participation in jeopardy.

This unexpected obstacle had delayed their travel to South Africa, preventing them from arriving on time for the start of the competition.

In response, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) urgently appealed to FIBA Africa, the South African hosts, and Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Their efforts paid off, as the team was granted visas less than 24 hours before their opening game.

However, the visa delay had an impact as the team couldn’t properly train in Pretoria before their first game, which contributed to their 70-57 loss to Egypt in the rescheduled opener on Wednesday.

Prior to this, the team had been training in Abuja after returning from Abidjan, where they earned their spot in the African finals by winning the FIBA Africa Zone 3 ticket.