By BABATUNDE OGUNRINDE

President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Musa Kida, has called on Nigerians to rally behind the senior men’s national basketball team, D’Tigers, as they begin their campaign in the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers.

Kida said this on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that D’Tigers had been drawn in Group E alongside Cameroon, South Sudan, Cabo Verde, Tunisia and Guinea in what is expected to be a keenly contested qualifying series.

“Nigeria will open its campaign against Cameroon on Aug. 27, before taking on South Sudan on Aug. 28 and Cabo Verde on Aug. 30 in the opening qualification window,” he said.

Kida urged basketball fans, corporate organisations and other well-meaning Nigerians to support the team in its quest to secure qualification for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

“The support of Nigerians will provide the needed motivation for the players and technical crew as they compete against some of Africa’s top basketball nations,” he said.

Kida expressed confidence in the team’s ability to compete favourably, urging Nigerians to remain united in their support throughout the qualification campaign.

“D’Tigers will go into the qualifiers with an encouraging record against some of their Group E opponents, having won three of their previous four meetings against Cameroon.

“The team also enjoys a positive record against South Sudan, although Cabo Verde has proved a difficult opponent, with Nigeria recording only one victory in six previous encounters.

“The team will be seeking a strong start to improve its chances of securing a place at the global basketball showpiece,” he said.

NAN reports that the team advanced to the second round of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers with an improved performance in the first phase of the competition.

Nigeria finished the second qualification window with a 1-2 record after defeats to Tunisia and Guinea before defeating Rwanda 75-69 in overtime at the Salle Multidisciplinaire de Radès in Tunisia.

The result left the team under pressure heading into the third qualification window.

It would be recalled that D’Tigers recorded three consecutive victories during the third window held in Luanda, Angola, from July 2 to July 5, to finish strongly and progress from Group C to the second round of the African qualifiers. (NAN)

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