Head coach of Nigeria’s men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, Mohammed Abdulrahman, and captain Ike Nwamu have expressed disappointment over the team’s exit from the ongoing FIBA Men’s AfroBasket Championship, admitting they failed to capitalise on key moments despite a spirited effort..
The 2015 champions had impressed in the group stage, topping Group B with six points after victories over Madagascar, Tunisia, and Cameroon.
But against five-time semi-finalists Senegal, Nigeria fell short, particularly in the second half, as Brancou Badio and Jean Jacques Boissy inspired the Teranga Lions to their fifth straight AfroBasket semi-final appearance.
Reflecting on the defeat, Abdulrahman said:
“On a night we were supposed to bring our A-game, we fell short. I’m not taking any credit away from Senegal — they deserve the win. I’m proud of how we played. We have an identity now, and we are just moving forward from it.”
Co-captain Nwamu echoed his coach’s sentiments, describing the result as painful:
“It hurts. We had high hopes, we had a really good group, a fun group. We all love each other, but it’s part of the game — one team has to win, another has to lose. It was not our day. They came out with more energy; we were kind of flat to start with. They are a really good team with lots of high-level players.”
Meanwhile, the National Sports Commission (NSC) praised the team’s run, commending their resilience and commitment.
In a statement, the NSC said:
“The team indeed showed the resilience, talent, and passion that define Nigerian basketball. Though the journey ends here, the lessons and experiences gained are stepping stones to greater achievements ahead. Nigeria is proud of you, D’Tigers. The best is yet to come.” the statement concluded.