2024 Olympic dream over for D’Tigers
Nigeria’s D’Tigers will not be at next year’s Paris Olympics after losing to Mali, in their second and final Group A game at the 2024 FIBA men’s pre-qualifying Olympic event on Tuesday.
The team fell for the second time before a supportive home crowd 68–77 against Mali, a day after they had been defeated by Senegal at the ongoing event inside the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos.
The result means that Senegal and Mali have qualified for the semi-finals of the six-team competition.
From the tip off, Nigeria looked an improved version of the same side they lost to Senegal, imposing their authority on the Malian side early in the game.
Although Mali gradually grew into the game, the Nigeria players were able to see out the first half with 43–38 points.
The second half continued in a similar fashion and D’Tigers continued to dominate proceedings, however, the opponents showed little signs of actually putting up a fight, but, the quarter ended 61–53.
D’Tigers started the last quarter of the game as if they were in self-destruct mode, they totally lost control of the match and turned over possession almost willingly and Mali capitalised on it.
This is the first time since the 2008 Beijing Olympics that D’Tigers will fail to qualify for the games.
Senegal will now battle Mali on Thursday for who will finish winner in Group A.
The team that will emerge champions at the pre-qualifying Olympic tournament will qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
