By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
…Guinea Shocks Tunisia 66-57 to Top Group C Table
RWANDAN WASPS Male basketball team on Sunday night in Redes, Tunisia stressed D’Tigers of Nigeria before the Nigerian team could earn their first win in Group C of the African Qualifier for the world cup stretching the match to an overtime victory to Nigeria with 14-8 points at OT.
It was 12-21 for Rwanda in the 1st quarter; 6-13 at the 2nd quarters before the two teams went for half time at 27-25 in favor of Rwanda. Nigeria made 20-9 wins at the 3rd quarter but ended the full time with 16-25 in the 4th quarter. The surprise was that Nigeria was leading with 51-48 with the game time of 3:34 minutes left before the Wasps stung the Tigers to end full time at 61-61. Laughter came for Nigeria when the Ref blew off the Overtime of five minutes used in football terminology as extra time.
Earlier today, Guinea shocked hosts Tunisia 66-57 in a closely contested match that saw Guinea clinch the 1st quarter 14-9; lost the 2nd quarter 13-16; won the 3rd quarter 20-17 and also won the 4th quarter 19-15.
D’Tigers of Nigeria had on Friday lost to Tunisia 78 -88 after extra time while Guinea same Friday shocked Rwanda with 82-70 win. Yesterday, Nigeria again lost to Guinea 55-69 while Rwanda lost to Tunisia 66-79.
Nigeria now ranked 65 in the world had only met Rwanda Wasps ranked 90 in the world had met three times all won by Nigeria and two of those encounters been at the AFRO Basketball Qualifiers. The biggest win for Nigeria over Rwanda was 108-53 at FIBAQ of 24th February 2018; the encounter of 28th November 2020 ended Nigeria 83 and Rwanda 62 while that of 18th February 2021 was Nigeria 64 Rwanda 51.
Former African Champions, Nigeria in August this year, beat Madagascar 77-69 on 13th, beat Tunisia 87-66 on 15th; tamed the Cameroonian Indomitable Lions 99-90 on 17th but bowed to the Senegalese Lions 75-91 on 20th.
Nigeria is well placed on the world Basketball map appearing at the Olympic Games thrice and world cup also thrice but winning no medal at nay appearance. She appeared 20 times at Afro Basketball event finals won Gold in 2015; won Silver four times in 1997, 1999, 2003 and 2017 also getting the Bronze thrice in 1995, 2005 and 2011. Nigeria made eight appearances at the African Games winning Gold in 2011 and bagging the Bronze five times in 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2017.
Rwanda ranked 90 in the world never went for the world cup finals. In fact, the country made a debut at the AFRO Basketball in 2007 and has now made six appearances at the Afro BB finals. It is interesting to report that despite being a giant in African Basketball, Nigeria never up till date hosted the AFRO BB final tournament but Rwanda hosted the 30th edition in 2021.
That year, she was beaten in the round of 16 games by Guinea 68-72. That year Nigeria was also eliminated at the round of 16 games by less fancied Uganda 68-80.
So Zone C table reads: first is Guinea that won all 3 matches got 6 points netting 217-182 points on field with a difference of 35; Tunisia is 2nd with 5 points from 3 matches having won 2 matches and lost one netting 224 -210 points on field with a difference of +14; Nigeria is 3rd playing 3 matches winning one and losing two having 4 points with 208-226 points on field with a difference of -18 while Rwanda that lost all three games has 3 points scoring 205-236 on field with a difference of -31.
July next year, Nigeria will open her qualification campaign against Tunisia on 2nd, Play Guinea on the 3rd and on 5th try out Rwanda. Same July next year, Rwanda will meet Guinea on 2nd, play a tough one against Tunisia on the 3rd and come for Nigeria again on the 5th.
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