By Toby Prince
Nigeria defeated defending champions Angola 74 – 65 to be crowned African Champions for the first time ever at the 28th edition of the AfroBasket championship in Rades, Tunisia on Sunday.
The victory also means the D’Tigers will be flying Africa’s flag at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
Nigeria started the game on a low going down 10 – 13 to the Angolans but the game took a different turn as soon as Olumide Oyedeji was substituted for Chamberlain Oguchi.
Nigeria bounced back with speed to win the second and third quarters after resisting the physically strong Angolans. They outclassed their opponents 11 – 27 in the second and 12- 14 in the third to put the game beyond the reach of the eleven-time African Champions.
The Angolans regrouped to win the final quarter 29- 23 but that was not enough to earn them their twelfth trophy.
With twelve points, eight rebounds, three blocks, two assists and one steal, Nigeria’s Olaseni Lawal was awarded the top performer of the game.
While his counterpart, Chamberlain Oguchi, won the tournament’s Most Value Player after his hard work earned his country their first AfroBasket trophy.
The Nigeria star also won two individual accolades; the best three pointer and included in the tournament’s A team.
In the third place playoff, tournament host Tunisia held off Senegal 82-73 to win bronze.
Angola, Tunisia, and Senegal each secured a spot in next summer’s final FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
