DTigers lost their final game of the African qualifiers for the 2023 FIBA World Cup to Angola, but the result would not have mattered. Cape Verde already took the spot.
Going into the last game, not only did we needed to win our game against Angola, we also needed Cote D`Ivoire to win theirs against Cape Verde to ensure that we finish third in Group E ahead of Cape Verde.
As winner and runner up in Group E, Cote D`Ivoire and Angola had already qualified for the World Cup before the last game was played. The same was for South Sudan and Egypt who picked up the slots from Group F. The last slot was reserved for the "best third", and Nigeria, Cape Verde, Tunisia and Senegal all had a chance to clinch it.
Cape Verde`s 15 point victor over Cote D`Ivoire gave them an edge. Senegal defeated Cameroon to finish 3rd in Group F. However, comparing the two teams, Cape Verde finished with more points (16), more point difference (+35) and more point for, emerging as the best third.
Regardless of the result, DTigers` Head Coach Ogoh Odaudu expressed pride and gratitude in the Nigerian team.
"I`m extremely proud of my boys. It`s too bad that we are not making it to the World Cup but I think we put up a good fight and we can say we are proud of ourselves"
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