Nigeria’s D’Tigers opened their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers campaign in style on Thursday, edging Tunisia 84-81 in a tense Group C clash in Luanda, Angola. The win marked new head coach David Fizdale’s competitive debut on the sidelines, and it could not have come at a better time for a team looking to turn its qualification fortunes around.
Ike Iroegbu and Chimezie Metu led the way for Nigeria, both finishing with 17 points. Metu added seven rebounds, while Wesley Iwundu chipped in 14 points and five rebounds. UC Iroegbu ran the offense, contributing 13 points and a game-high six assists for the D’Tigers.
Tunisia fought hard until the final buzzer, with Omar Abada and Firas Lahiani both scoring 21 points apiece. Abada also dished out eight assists, and Lahiani grabbed eight rebounds, but their efforts were not enough to prevent Nigeria escaping Luanda with the win.
The victory carries extra weight as revenge. Tunisia had opened Nigeria’s Window One campaign in November with an 88-78 win over the D’Tigers. Thursday’s result flips that script, handing Nigeria a statement win over a side that had gotten the better of them earlier in the qualifying series.
Fizdale, a two-time NBA champion and former Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks head coach, took charge of D’Tigers for the first time in Luanda after just a single training session with his players. Nigeria arrived in Angola sitting third in Group C with a 1-2 record, meaning wins in this window were vital to keep their qualification hopes alive.
D’Tigers will have little time to celebrate. Nigeria returns to action on Friday, July 3, against Guinea, before rounding off the qualification window against Rwanda on July 5. A strong follow-up performance against Guinea would firmly put Nigeria back in contention for a spot in the next round of African qualifying.
