Nigeria’s senior male national basketball team, D’Tigers, on Saturday in Kigali, Rwanda booked their place in the second round of the 2023 FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
They recorded a 20-0 points win over Mali who failed to show up for the game, the second game of the three they are to play in the second window of their qualification group.
With three wins gained in the first window, D’Tigers now have eight points to join group leaders Cape Verde and third-placed Uganda in the second round of the qualifiers.
The top three teams in Group A will be merged with the top three teams in Group C.
The group has Côte d’Ivoire, Angola, Guinea, and the Central African Republic (CAR).
D’Tigers will still take on Uganda on Sunday in their last match of this second window.
Both teams have lost during this window to the eventual group winners, Cape Verde, but the match will be inconsequential to qualification as they are both assured of passage.
In February, D’Tigers beat Uganda 95-69 and this match will only decide the second and third spots in the group.
The next round of matches will be held between Aug. 22 and Aug. 30.
Meanwhile, two late goals by Moses Omoduemuke ensured visiting Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan drew 2-2 with Rangers International of Enugu on Saturday in Awka.
The home draw meant the hosts failed to gain valuable ground on their 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) rivals in the race for the competition’s third position.
The Omoduemuke’s 73rd and 88th minutes goals cancelled out strikes by Shedrack Asiegbu and Chidiebere in the 46th and 55th minutes respectively.
The result meant Rangers stayed fourth on the log behind Remo Stars Football Club of Ikenne in third place, with each of them on 53 points.
This may mean that the 1977 African Cup Winners Cup champions may not be having a return next season to the competition now known as the CAF Confederation Cup.
Remo Stars are likely to build a gap when they host fifth-placed Enyimba International of Aba on Sunday, while Enyimba can even leapfrog Rangers if they win in Ikenne.
Sixth-placed Kwara United who host Nasarawa United of Lafia on Sunday in Ilorin can do same if they win.
Eighth-placed Akwa United of Uyo can move up if they beat hosts Wikki Tourists on Sunday too.
Seventh-placed Sunshine Stars of Akure seem to be out of the reckoning for now, after a 0-1 loss to hosts Heartland Football Club of Owerri who are in the 18th place.
Abia Warriors of Umuahia did their campaign a lot of good with a 3-2 win over Gombe United, while Dakkada FC beat visiting Katsina FC 2-0 in Uyo.
Other Match Day 36 fixtures slated for Sunday will see title winners Rivers United of Port Harcourt hosting Kano Pillars, while MFM FC of Lagos will host Niger Tornadoes of Minna.
Second-placed Plateau United of Jos should have their hands full as they host relegation-threatened Lobi Stars of Makurdi.
But knowing a win will cement their position and the 2022/2023 CAF Champions League ticket, there may be no surprises.
