Basketball: D’Tigers are Four Nations Challenge Champions

Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team emerged inaugural champions of the 2015 Four Nations Challenge in South Africa following victory over Mozambique in the showdown match on Sunday.

D’Tigers defeated Mozambique 72-59 in the final match to maintain a four-match winning run at the championship held at the Wembley Indoor Arena, Turfontein, Johannesburg.

Nigeria booked a date with Mozambique via an impeccable 3-0 record in the round-robing phase with opening win over Kenya, subsequent successes against South Africa and Mozambique.

They had made a walk of their opening day clash with Kenya 83-52 on Friday, before seeing off hosts South Africa 97-58 on Saturday.

Nigeria pinched Mozambique’s unbeaten run in their final round-robin clash on Saturday 51-42, and went on to see off the same opponent in Sunday’s final.

D’Tigers’ long-serving captain, Olumide Oyedeji, scooped the Most Valuable Player gong for his contribution to the team’s success.

The team was expected back in the country on Monday. They are set to take on Burkina Faso in a joint-FIBA Africa Championship (Afrobasket) and All-Africa Games final round qualifying match return leg in Nigeria.

The coach Sani Ahmed-led team humbled Burkina Faso 87-64 in the first leg in Ougadougou to have a footing in the 2015 Afrobasket/All-Africa Games. The reverse is slated for Wednesday, 25 March.