Ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo next week, the Nigeria men’s national basketball team, D’Tigers recorded their first ever victory against powerhouse, USA in a preparatory match yesterdayday
D’Tigers, led by coach Mike Brown, bagged an incredible victory over the national team of the United States of America early Sunday morning.
Nigeria defeated the United States men’s basketball team 90-87 in their first tune-up game ahead of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo
Point guard, Gabe Vincent, Caleb Agada and forward Precious Achiuwa were the stars for the Nigerian team.
Nigeria converted 22 three-point throws in the game. It was the country’s first win over the No. 1 ranked nation in the world.
D’Tigers head coach, Mike Brown, has named a provisional 15-man squad for the Tokyo Olympics, and conspicuously missing from the list is Ike Diogu, a stalwart of the team in the last 10 years.
The American coach pruned his initial 49-man list to 15 ahead of the friendly matches lined up for the team just before the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The 15-man list was made public Tuesday with eight NBA stars in the mix.
It is headlined by Detroit Piston Centre, Jahlil Okafor, who is in line to make his international debut for Nigeria.
Miami Heat’s trio of Gabe Vincent, Chikezie ‘KZ’ Okpala, and 2020 NBA draft pick, Precious Achiuwa have also made the cut for the last phase of preparation with Utah Jazz’s Miye Oni.
A statement issued by the NBBF on Tuesday indicates Minnesota Timberwolves Josh Okogie and Metu Chimezie of Sacramento Kings will be making a return to D’Tigers.
This is following their exploits at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China where the youngsters helped Nigeria secure an Olympics ticket alongside Ike Iroegbu.
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