Nigeria’s under-18 men’s basketball team, the junior D’Tigers, are out of the 2024 AfroBasket U-18 Championship following their 81-70 loss to Mali in the quarterfinals on Thursday night.
The Nigerians were on top from the onset of the game and won the first quarter 23-19. However, they lost the second quarter 15-21, ending the first half with a two-point deficit of 40-38. They narrowly edged the third 15-14 but were blown out in the fourth quarter 27-17.
This loss was despite Oluwatemitope Ezekiel’s game-high 24 points, followed by Ibrahim Danmutum’s 11 points. The Malians used fast breaks to great effect, garnering 23 points to Nigeria’s 12.
