Nigeria national basketball team, D’Tigers, succumbed to their third consecutive defeat at the Rio Olympics following 96 – 87 loss to Spain on Friday morning.
The game was played at an empty Carioca Arena 1, after Federal Police and the Brazilian Army carried out a controlled explosion following the discovery of a backpack that had been left near a trash can in a bathroom.
Despite the bizarre scenario prior to the game, Spain, silver-medallists at the last two Olympics, jumped out to an early 16-point lead.
The second best team in the world appeared to be cruising but then Nigeria had a huge turnaround and, thanks in large part to Chamberlain Oguchi’s three-point shooting.
However, the D’Tigers took the lead by a point late in the last minute of the third quarter.
Spain hurt themselves when Pau Gasol argued with a referee about a foul and drew a technical. That put the Africans into the bonus and Ekene Ibekwe sank two free-throws before Josh Akognon made the technical free-throw.
The Europeans however took the lead at the start of the fourth quarter and held on for the victory.
As usual, Oguchi performed in heroic fashion with a blistering display from long range despite the poor showing of his team.
The top four teams qualify for the quarterfinals and the D’Tigers could still sneak into the last eight with victory over Brazil and Croatia.
