D’Tigers Edge Guinea To Reach Second Round Of FIBA World Cup Qualifiers

D’Tigers of Nigeria sealed their place in the second round of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers after battling to a dramatic 80-79 win over Guinea in a Group C clash in Luanda on Friday.

The one-point success ended Guinea’s unbeaten run in the group and ensured both sides progressed to the next phase of the qualification campaign.

D’Tigers arrived for the game with confidence after grinding out an 84-81 victory over Tunisia on Thursday. They were forced to dig even deeper against a determined Guinea side that looked on course for another win.

Guinea held a six-point advantage at the end of the third quarter and appeared to have one foot over the line. Nigeria, however, responded with a spirited final-quarter display, tightening up defensively and taking their chances when it mattered most.

The comeback was completed in the closing moments as D’Tigers snatched an 80-79 win to maintain their perfect run in Luanda.

The result leaves Nigeria well placed heading into their final Group C fixture against Rwanda on Sunday, July 5. That game will determine the final standings in the group before attention shifts to the next stage of the qualifiers.

Twelve teams from the first round will advance to the second round, where they will be split into two groups of six.

Each group will be made up of teams that progressed from the four first-round groups, with results already earned in the opening phase carried forward.

The race for places at the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar will then intensify, with only the top two teams from each second-round group securing automatic qualification.

The best third-placed team across the two groups will also earn a ticket to the expanded global showpiece.