J’Tigers, J’Tigress set new records, qualify for U-18 AfroBasket quarterfinals

Nigeria set a new record at the ongoing African U-18 Basketball Championships held in Pretoria, South Africa, where the country has qualified for the quarterfinals of both the boy’s and girls’ competitions.

The championships in South Africa are the qualifying events for the FIBA U-18 Junior World Cup slated for Switzerland. Nigeria’s qualification for the quarterfinal is the first time both teams will make the last eight at that level.

The girls picked the quarterfinal slot as one of the third-best teams from their group.

The J’Tigress, who will face Egypt today in Pretoria, lost their opening game to the Egyptians and now have a chance to prove that the loss was a mistake.

The Nigerians blamed their defeat by the Egyptians on fatigue, having arrived at the venue just before the game.

The boys’ opponents were yet to be confirmed as of press time.

Speaking on Nigeria’s performance so far in Pretoria, a former D’Tigers power forward and now a member of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Ugo Udezue, expressed happiness with the strides the teams have made.

“It has been a roller coaster. Our players have passed through adversity and are still going. We are extremely proud of our teams and officials,” Udezue, who is the leader of the delegation to South Africa, said.

The boys arrived in Pretoria very late after the South African Embassy in Abuja initially denied them visas. They are competing without any financial support from the Ministry of Sports Development, but that have not shown in their games.

The two finalists in the boys and girls categories are expected to represent Africa at the FIBA U-18 World Cup scheduled to take place in Switzerland.