Afrobasket 2013: Nigeria Pounces Mali in Abidjan

Nigeria’s senior men national basketball team, D’Tigers, got off to a winning start with a 75-59 win over Mali at Palais des Sports de Treichville, Abidjan in their first match of the 2013 Afrobasket championship.

D'Tigers Against China at the Stankovic Cup.
D’Tigers Against China at the Stankovic Cup.

Forward Ike Diogu notched up 19 points and 7 rebounds to give Nigeria an edge over their West African opponents while Al-Farouq Aminu added 15 points and ten rebounds for the winners.

Mali started well by racing into a 7-2 lead early in the game. Nigeria managed to reduce the deficit at the first break, trailing by four points with scores settled at 14-18.

D’Tigers pulled ahead at the start of the second quarter with an 8-0 run and were 31-27 up at half-time.

Mali ensured they don’t allow their opponent run away with an easy victory as Namory Boundy capped the third quarter with a three-pointer to put Mali in a slim 46-47 gap at the end of the stanza.

Nigeria raced into a 14-0 run at the start of the final quarter and held on to a well deserved lead. Alade Aminu accounted for 12 points for Nigeria.

Namory Boundy answered with 21 points for Mali, Modibo Diakate and Mohammed Tangara had 9 points each.