FIBA Africa Zone-III Elimination: Nigeria succumb to Togo 58-59

second game of Day-2 of the qualifiers Nigeria were unlucky against a determined Togolaise side going down by 58-59 points with the Togolaise who are determine to book a place in the 2011 FIBA Africa Championship for Men dictating the pace for the better part of the highly explosive game which kept the fans on the edge of their seats througout the duration of the game.

Togo won the first quarter by 15-11 points with Nigeria rallying back in the second quarter with a 14-13 points win to go into the break with a three points deficits of 28-25 points in favour of Togo.

Not wanting to give up easily Nigeria took another shot at beating the Togolaise to their game with a 16-13 points win in the third quarter to even scores at 41 points apiece going into the last quarter with rising to the ocassion to pick the last quarter by 18-17 points to run away with a hard earned victory of 59-58 points which set the fans in wide jubilation as the win over Nigeria thus restore their hope of a place at the 2011 Afrobasket slated for Abidjan, Cote dIvoire.

Togo Abdouf-Fatarh Damatare led his teammates with 16 points, Jimmy Williams grabbed 11 rebounds and scored 9 points, Komi Kouigan contributed 10 points and 5 rebounds while Mauetar Diaby grabbed 13 rebounds to seal victory for their side with Nigeria Abubakar Usman scoring 17 points and 6 rebounds.

Day-2 Results:
Cote dIvoire 81-57 Benin
Nigeria 58-59 Togo

Day-3 Games:
Cote dIvoire Vs Nigeria 17H00

FIBA Africa Zone-III Qualifiers: Cote dIvoire bow to Nigeria 52-72

Nigeria Thursday dethrone Cote dIvoire as the leader of the FIBA Africa Zone-III elimination in Day-3 of the series with a 72-52 points win.
Nigeria who lost narrowly to Togo on Wednesday came out against Cote dIvoire who had enjoyed an unbeaten run in the qualifying series more determined and this paid off as the Nigerian side picked the first two quarters with 19-13 and 16-13 points for a half-time score-line of 36-26 points.

Cote dIvoire came out smoking in the third quarter but the effort could only yield a 20-19 points win going into the final quarter with a 9 points deficit with the Nigerian pilling up pressure on the Cote dIvoire side winning the last quarter by 17-06 points for a final score of 72-52 points which shot them to the top of the four-nation elimination series.
Nigeria Abubakar Usman led the floor with 19 points, Azuoma Dike added 14 points, Mattew Omonye contributed 10 points and 5 rebounds while Onyeka Ekpete grabbed 7 rebounds to secure victory for Nigeria who now share the same record with Cote dIvoire of 2-1.

FIBA Africa Zone-3 Qualifier: Nigeria defeat Benin 76-47

Nigeria senior national team, DTigers Saturday continue its superb form with a 76-47 defeat of Benin Republic in the reverse fixtures of the FIBA Africa Zone-3 qualifier going on in Lome, Togo.

Nigeria began the quest for the big win over Benin with a 22-09 points win in the first quarter, the Stanley Gumut captain side went on to win the second and third quarter by 15-06 and 28-16 points to move into the last quarter with a 34 points advantage of 65-31 points leaving the Benin side to pick the last quarter by 16-11 points for a final score-line of 76-47 points.

Matthew Omonye led the floor with a double double effort of 19 points and 10 rebounds, Abubakar Usman added 11 while Mohammed Bukar contributed 10 points with Onyeka Ekpete grabbing 13 rebounds for Nigeria victory.

With the victory over Benin , Nigeria remain on top of the four nation elimination series and confirm its place at the 2011 FIBA Africa Championship for Men (Cup of Nations) t be hosted by Cote dIvoire.

The Coach Sani Ahmed tutored Nigerian side will engage Togo on Sunday at 7.00pm local time 8.00 PM Nigeria time and play her last qualifying game against Cote dIvoire on Monday

FIBA Africa Zone-3 Qualifiers: Give your best NBBF President urges DTigers players

President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF Tijjani umar Friday urge Nigeria senior national players, (DTigers) in Lome, Togo to give their best ahead of the three remaining games in the FIBA Africa Zone-3 elimination which enter its second round today.
The NBBF president while addressing the players in their Hotel Le Pelican says the nation is proud and solidly behind them but urge the players to give their best as the country continue its quest to make it to the continent biggest basketball showpiece in 2011 The FIBA Africa Championship for Men (CAN) to be hosted by Cote dIvoire.
Umar asked the players to put behind them the one-point lost to Togo on Wednesday and focus on winning their remaining game which began with the pairing against Benin Republic today (Saturday).

Nigeria currently lead the elimination series with five points from three games and look good to overcome Benin today at 5.00pm local time and 6.00 pm Nigeria time, the Coaches Sani Ahmed and Adeka Daudu tutored side will file out against host Togo at 7.00pm local time on Sunday and play its last game against Cote dIvoire on Monday at 5.00pm local time.