The Nation Newspaper

Tag: D’Tigers

  • RIO OLYMPICS: D’Tigers get boost as Shane Lawal returns to gym

    RIO OLYMPICS: D’Tigers get boost as Shane Lawal returns to gym

    Nigeria basketball fraternity got cheering news ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as D’Tigers top performer at the 2015 Afrobasket triumph Olaseni Shane Lawal, who suffered a torn meniscus while playing for Barcelona Lassa, has resumed light training.

    Lawal who averaged 19.6 efficiency and 9.0 rebounds in all games to help William Voight’s D’Tigers team clinch their first-ever continental championship in Tunisia got injured in Barcelona’s top 16 Round 7 of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague game against Zalgiris Kaunas on February 12 and underwent knee surgery five days later. He was subsequently ruled out for three months.

    It’s been about four weeks since the 29-year-old suffered the injury and judging by a short video of his light exercise he uploaded on his official Instagram account on Friday with a message, “Everyday is gameday”, his recovery is right on track.

    D’Tigers were on Friday drawn alongside host Brazil, Spain, Argentina and Lithuania in Group B of the Men’s Basketball event of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

    Lawal is one of the players expected to shine for Nigeria in the forthcoming Games come August, alongside Afrobasket MVP Chamberlain Oguchi and trail blazers star Al Amin Farouq.

     

  • Basketball: D’Tigers,Egypt clash in semi final

    Basketball: D’Tigers,Egypt clash in semi final

    The Nigeria men basketball team, D’Tigers made certain of their top spot by beating Cote D’Ivoire 60-51 in their last group game to set up a semi final clash against Egypt.

    The Nigerian team won all its group games and is close to retaining the gold medal it won at the last edition of the African Games in Brazzaville in 2011. The players were cautious doing enough to avoid any upset from the Ivoreins.

    The women are also battling hard to top their group after winning their first three games, the best game being their 70-69 point win over Mali, in their opening game.

    Skipper of the D’Tigers, Olumide Oyedeji said that the team was at the Games to win the title, noting that all the players were ready to defeat any team in their quest to retain the gold.

    “We are all here to win the title. Anything short of that might be a disappointment, but I am sure that we are capable of achieving that aim. It is a big task, however, we are ready to accomplish it,” he added.

    Speaking in the vein, Coach Ahmed Sani said the team aim is to win he gold. He said the players must be good offensively and also defend well in their subsequent games, saying that the competition is getting tougher.

    “It is getting tougher now and I have spoken to the players to improve their game by playing to instructions. They have all done well, but we need to play as a unit to be sure of winning gold.

  • Dogara lauds D’Tigers’ FIBA tourney victory

    Dogara lauds D’Tigers’ FIBA tourney victory

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has said the victory of the nation’s basketball team at the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Afro basketball 2015 championship in Tunisia was an exhibition of the true Nigerian spirit of resilience, courage and determination.

    Dogara, in a congratulatory message by issued his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, said the victory was for all Nigerians and not just the team.

    It reads: ” Nigeria has never won the competition as Angola, continued to triumph over the D’Tigers in the past but that yesterday`s victory has finally broken the jinx.

    “By beating the 10th time champions 74-65, members of D`Tigers had made Nigeria proud and written their names in gold.

    “The Speaker further expressed his happiness with the team for not only winning the competition but qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

    “He said the team has exhibited the true Nigerian spirit of resilience, courage and determination which according to him, led to their victory over Angola.

  • Buhari hails D’Tigers’ victory at FIBA championship

    Buhari hails D’Tigers’ victory at FIBA championship

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday congratulated the national men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, on the team victory over Angola in Sunday’s final of the FIBA Africa Basketball Championship in Tunisia.

    Buhari, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, joined other sports loving Nigerians in applauding D’Tigers’ exhilarating 74-65 victory over the Angolans, which also secured Nigeria’s qualification for the men’s basketball event at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

    The President commended the players for displaying exemplary strength, courage, determination, patriotism, great skills and creativity to dethrone Angola, the perennial African basketball champions.

    He urged members of the team and their handlers to work very hard to surpass their extraordinary heroics in Tunisia before a global audience at next year’s Olympic Games and bring even greater glory to Nigeria.

    The President assured the team, its managers and the Nigerian Basketball Federation that his administration will give them and Nigeria’s other representatives at the next Olympic Games, the fullest possible support to ensure that they are well prepared to excel against the champions of other countries and regions in Rio De Janeiro.

     

  • Ajayi targets 2015 Afrobasket/AAG glory with D’Tigers

    Ajayi targets 2015 Afrobasket/AAG glory with D’Tigers

    Eastern Michigan University center, Olalekan Ajayi is already looking forward to represent Nigeria at the forthcoming African Basketball Cup of Nations (Afrobasket) and All African Games competitions.

    Ajayi who moved to United State of America in 2009, will provide valuable experience, and a solid defensive presence in the front-court for the country’s male national basketball team, D’Tigers if given the chance to represent his fatherland.

    In a chat with SportingLife from his base, the former Dodan Warriors Academy player said he is expecting a ‘special experience’ with the team.

    “I am expecting invitation from the national team. I’ve spoken with the federation president, Tijani Umar and will also see him when I come to Nigeria to have a one on one conversation with him in Abuja.

    “It is a special feeling to represent Nigeria. I’m just praying this works out. I really want to represent my fatherland, get the opportunity to serve and help my country, it will be awesome.

    “In my position, I’m the best defensive forward, I can score and rebound the ball, that’s my strength. I’m very aggressive defensively and I’m still very young, at 22.”

    D’Tigers were at the weekend pitted against former champions and host Tunisia and Uganda in Group A for the 2015 FIBA Africa Basketball Championship.

    The tournament which will be held from 19-30 August in the Tunisian cities of Nabeul and Tunis will serve as a qualifying event for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

    Ajayi however believes with the quality of players at the team’s disposal, Nigeria will not only secure one of the tickets to Rio 2016, but also go all the way to win the championship.

    “We have been drawn in a fair group, though it will be a tough one against the host, Tunisia. But I believe D’Tigers have talented players to do the job and secure Olympic Games ticket.

    “If given the chance to represent the team I’m going to put in all my energy and defensive ability to help the team achieve glory at the All Africa Games and the Afrobasket Championship.”

     

     

  • D’Tigers’ fans describe quarter-final loss to Senegal as painful

    D’Tigers’ fans describe quarter-final loss to Senegal as painful

    Some supporters of D’Tigers, the Nigerian basketball team on Thursday in Abidjan described the quarter-final loss to Senegal in the on-going African Nations Basketball Championship (Afrobasket) as painful.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian side which progressed unbeaten to the quarter-final lost 64-63 to Senegal on Wednesday.

    NAN reports that apart from ending the team’s dream of lifting the title for the first time, the loss also ended its bid to book a place in the World Cup. The D’Tigers had beaten Mali 74-59, Congo 93-75, Cameroon 91-84 in the first round, and Central African Republic 112-75 in the second round.

    Some of the supporters who spoke to NAN after the match said the slim loss was heartbreaking and unexpected, judging by the performance displayed since the beginning of the tournament.

    Bright Moses, President of the Association of Nigerian Youth in Cote d’Ivoire, said the loss to Senegal, dwindled the surging morale of supporters.

    “It was actually not a good day for the team; we saw them bungle similar opportunities that they utilised in the previous matches. They clearly did not come out with the kind of force we saw in the previous games, we all came out of the venue dampened,’’ he said.

    Another supporter, Nkono Maximus, a Nigerian trader based in Abidjan, described the loss as “cutting short the joyous moments brought to Nigerians in the country since the game began.

    “Truly, this is not where we hoped to end, it was painful but we must take it as one of those things in sports. When we won, some persons mourned and wept, today we have lost, it happens in the world of sports,’’ he said.

    Another Nigerian, Ruth Isibor called on the team not to be dismayed by the loss but to go back to the planning table for future competitions.

    “It is true that our hopes and joy have been cut short, but we must go back and plan, we have a team that can go far,’’ she said.

    NAN reports that the 2013 edition is Nigeria’s 25th appearance in the championship since its premier edition in 1965.

  • Fans rue Nigeria’s quarter-final loss to Senegal

    Fans rue Nigeria’s quarter-final loss to Senegal

    Some supporters of D’Tigers, the Nigerian basketball team on Thursday in Abidjan described the quarter-final loss to Senegal in the on-going African Nations Basketball Championship (Afrobasket) as painful.

    NAN reports that the Nigerian side which progressed unbeaten to the quarter-final lost 64-63 to Senegal on yesterday.

    The report said that apart from ending the team’s dream of lifting the title for the first time, the loss also ended its bid to book a place in the World Cup.

    The D’Tigers had beaten Mali 74-59, Congo 93-75, Cameroon 91-84 in the first round, and Central African Republic 112-75 in the second round.

    Some of the supporters who spoke to NAN after the match said the slim loss was heartbreaking and unexpected, judging by the performance displayed since the beginning of the tournament.

    Bright Moses, President of the Association of Nigerian Youth in Cote d’Ivoire, said the loss to Senegal, dwindled the surging morale of supporters.

    “It was actually not a good day for the team; we saw them bungle similar opportunities that they utilised in the previous matches.

    “They clearly did not come out with the kind of force we saw in the previous games, we all came out of the venue dampened,’’ he said.

    Another supporter, Nkono Maximus, a Nigerian trader based in Abidjan, described the loss as “cutting short the joyous moments brought to Nigerians in the country since the game began.

    “Truly, this is not where we hoped to end, it was painful but we must take it as one of those things in sports.

    “When we won, some persons mourned and wept, today we have lost, it happens in the world of sports,’’ he said.

    Another Nigerian, Ruth Isibor called on the team not to be dismayed by the loss but to go back to the planning table for future competitions.

    “It is true that our hopes and joy have been cut short, but we must go back and plan, we have a team that can go far’’ she said.

    The 2013 edition is Nigeria’s 25th appearance in the championship since its premier edition in 1965.

  • 2013 AFROBASKET : Nigeria beat Congo 93-75

    Nigeria’s national basketball team, D’Tigers continued their impressive performance in the ongoing 2013 Afrobasket Championship in Cote d’Ivoire on Friday when they defeated Republic of Congo 93 – 75 in their second Group C game at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, Abidjan.

     D’Tigers had posted a 74-59 points victory against Mali in her opening game while Congo lost their first match 74-43 to Cameroon.
    D’Tigers, ranked number two in Africa behind Angola were the better side in Friday’s game racing to a 10 points lead to finish the 28 – 18 points in the first quarter. The coach Ayo Bakare-led team continued with same spirit to open up a 21 points margin at half-time (53 – 32).
    The Congolese team soared back to reduce the margin to 14 points at the end of 3rd quarter which ended at 72 – 58 points but the Nigerian team maintained the leading position and increased the lead to 18 points at the end of the fourth quarter to end the game 93 – 75 points.
    Nigeria will end their Group D campaign on Sunday against Cameroon by 8pm, after Congo would have taken up Mali earlier in the day by 3pm.
    Meanwhile, defending champion of Africa Cup of Nations – Afrobasket, Tunisia Friday evening became the first team to record centenary points when it defeated Burkina Faso by 100-45 points to lead group-B, while Morocco also picked it first group-B win beating Rwanda by 30 points margin of 87-57 points at the Palais des Sports Treichville, Cote d’Ivoire.
    The best three teams from the tournament will represent Africa at the 2014 World Basketball Championship in Spain.

  • AFROBASKETBALL 2013: D’Tigers dunk-off Mali 74-59

    Nigeria’s senior male team, D’Tigers began its quest for the African Basketball title after they defeated Mali 74-59 points.

    The Coach Ayo Bakare team despite starting their opening game on a shaky note, made amends rediscovering its form to win the second and last quarter of a keenly contest game decided at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, Abidjan.
    The first quarter of the game saw D’Tiger trailed by 4points to Malians after it ended 14-18.
    The second quarter saw a better performance from the Olumide Oyedeji and Ike Diogu star D’Tigers after they won it 17-9 to put half time score at 31-27points in favour of Nigeria.
    The Malian then made Nigeria pay for their inconsistency at shooting from the rebound in the 3rd quarter wining it by 16-19points.
    D’Tigers then showed the championship stuff they are made of dunking-off the Malians in the last quarter of the game with 27-13 points to win their game of the championship by 74-59 points.
    The result meant Nigeria go second on the Group C table behind Cameroon who thrashed Congo 74-43 in the first game of Wednesday, to have a point difference of +31 as against D’Tigers +15.