2023 FIBA WC: D'Tigers tackle Angola on Sunday in final hunt for World Cup ticket
Cape Verde and Nigeria have an equal number of points in their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers group and both teams know it’s a win-or-lose situation that comes once in a lifetime for many players.
By Olusola Adebayo
Nigeria men's national basketball team, D'Tigers will fave Angola on Sunday, (Today) by 7 pm in the final hunt for a ticket to attend the 2023 FIBA World Cup due in August.
Sunday will also see a group of teams from Groups E and F battle it out for the best third-placed finisher position to secure the remaining ticket for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in August.
To determine the best third-place team amongst Groups E and F, as the Group F team have 2 more games than the Group E team, the first-round games against the last-ranked team of Group B (Rwanda) and D (Kenya), will not be considered.
In that scenario, both best third-place teams will have a record of 5-5. Then the tiebreaker is the highest +/- on those 10 games. Four teams are hunting for the remaining ticket available for African countries for the World Cup.
Cape Verde and Nigeria have an equal number of points in their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers group and both teams know it’s a win-or-lose situation that comes once in a lifetime for many players.
The Blue Sharks of Cape Verde, who sit in third place in Group E, will have had little time to lick their wounds following Saturday’s 80-67 loss to Angola, who secured the second automatic spot in the group with the win on Saturday night.
Coach Emmanuel Trovoad s team of seasoned campaigners have to throw everything they have he Cote d'Ivoire in their final group game at the Pavilhao Multiusos do Kilamba.
Players like Jeff Xavier, Betinho Gomes, Fidel Mendo, NCA, and the Almeida brothers, Joel and Ivan, know another loss could mean the end of the road in their international careers.
So, against the World Cup-bound Ivorians, this veteran core of Cape Verdeans and their teammates will have to play the game of their lives.
With th presence of big man Walter Tavares, who joined the team for the game against Angola, the islanders have enough in the team to try and obtain a positive result against a relatively weakened Cote d’Ivoire team.
The young, brash D’Tigers of Nigeria are riding on a wave of confidence after securing two wins (against Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea).
This Nigerian team which is made up of mostly local-based players is hungry to proitselfves on the big stage. And young players like 20-year-old Victor Ezeh and 18-year-old Israel Obodo have stepped up for coach Ogoh Odaudu.
But Nigerisare awards e that Angoisare is on cloud nine following their World Cup qualification and they will want to finish these African Qualifiers on a high. So, while the Tigers are hungry for success they must be aware that their hosts are unlikely to do them anfavorsrs.
There will be two teams in Group E who will for different reasons do everything possible to secure the remaining World Cup ticket.
Cape Verde’s team of veterans will want to extend their international careers for a few more months, maybe, years, while Nigeria will hope that success in Luanda will mean more opportunities for locally-based players.
Tunisia or Senegal?
Reigning African champions Tunisia will finish third in Group F if they beat Congo DR. Senegal will finish third in Group F in Tunisia lose.
Additional report from FIBA
