Nigeria’s D’Tigers survived a fierce fightback from Guinea to win 80-79 on Friday, ending the group leaders’ unbeaten run and confirming their place in the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers.
D’Tigers came out flying at the Pavilhão Multiusos de Luanda. They forced four turnovers in the opening three minutes and converted them into seven quick points, building an early advantage. Nigeria took a deserved 46-40 lead into the break after frustrating the previously unbeaten Guineans.
Guinea hit back hard. They dominated the third quarter 28-16, overturning Nigeria’s halftime lead to take a six-point advantage into the final period. D’Tigers found themselves six points down after the third quarter but clawed their way back to snatch victory by a single point.
Chimezie Metu delivered the decisive blow. With three seconds left and Nigeria trailing 79-78, Metu received the ball inside the paint and calmly knocked down a floating two-point jumper for the 80-79 lead. Guinea’s Souleymane Boum Jr. had one last chance, but his desperate three-point attempt bounced away as the buzzer sounded.
Caleb Agada was again Nigeria’s standout, finishing with a team-high 22 points, four steals, three assists and two rebounds. Uche Iroegbu added 14 points and six assists without a turnover, while Akobundu-Ehiogu recorded 10 points and eight rebounds. Metu finished with nine points and eight rebounds, including the game-winner.
Guinea’s Sekou Doumbouya top-scored for the losers with 23 points, while Shannon Evans and Souleymane Boum Jr. added 18 apiece.
The result improves Nigeria’s record to 3-2, while Guinea slip to 4-1. It’s D’Tigers’ second straight win in the window, following an 84-81 victory over Tunisia on Thursday. Assistant coach David Vanterpool praised the players’ resilience, saying they fought through a Guinea comeback and got off the floor with the win.
D’Tigers close out the window against Rwanda on Sunday, July 5, in Luanda.
