D’Tigers In Trouble! Nigeria Crash To Second Consecutive Defeat After South Sudan Thriller

The D’Tigers of Nigeria suffered their second consecutive defeat in the second round of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers after losing 82-79 to South Sudan on Friday, August 28.

The Bright Stars held off a late fightback from D’Tigers to secure the three-point victory at the Salle Multidisciplinaire de Radès in Radès, Tunisia.

The result leaves Nigeria with a difficult challenge as they continue their quest to qualify for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar.

South Sudan made a strong start to the game, producing a 9-0 run late in the opening quarter. The impressive spell turned a 15-14 deficit into a 25-15 advantage before the Bright Stars closed the period with a 30-19 lead.

D’Tigers gradually settled into the contest and began to claw their way back. Caleb Agada sparked a 7-0 run late in the second quarter and into the third, helping Nigeria overturn a 43-41 deficit and take a 48-43 lead with 9:08 remaining in the third period.

However, South Sudan responded strongly and regained control as the game entered a tense final stretch.

Nigeria’s Josh Okogie tied the game at 70-70 with a three-pointer with 7:03 remaining, after the Bright Stars had taken a 70-67 lead. But Wenyen Gabriel quickly restored South Sudan’s advantage with a hook shot just 21 seconds later, and the Bright Stars held their nerve to secure the victory.

Marial Shayok was South Sudan’s standout performer, finishing with 19 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Nuni Omot contributed 13 points, while Carlik Jones narrowly missed a triple-double after recording 11 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds.

Okogie led Nigeria’s scoring with 14 points, alongside eight rebounds and two assists, but his performance was not enough to prevent D’Tigers from suffering another narrow defeat.

The loss came just two days after Nigeria were beaten 78-62 by Cameroon in their opening game of the second round.

D’Tigers will now face Cape Verde on Sunday in a crucial encounter as they look to revive their qualification hopes.