Algiers 2005 - Nigeria draws Central Africa in 1/4 D’Tigers finished second behind host Algeria in group-A for a place in the last eight, which comes up Monday in Algiers. Nigeria won four out its five group games the team played for a nine points same thing as Algeria but lost the top spot on the head-to-head rule since it lost to the North African. Feelers from the team’s camp in Algiers indicate that the Sam Vincent tutored side are roaring for action when they take to the floor against the highly defensive Central Africa Republic. The Tunji Awojobi captained Tigers have to put all they know into the quarter final duel against Central Africa if they must contest for one of the three tickets for the Japan 2006 World Cup. Coach Vincent is however confident that if the players can stick to their style of play then Central Africa will fall. He described the Central African team as a hard and competitive side but says they are beatable. The former Celtic player pleaded with Nigerian for understanding on his not giving home boy Abdulrahman Mohammed enough playing time but says the Customs two-guard has been very useful to the team. "Central Africa plays hard and are competitive but we are confident that wecan win if we play our style of basketball. Abdul has been playing hard and playing well though I did not know Abdul as well as I know the other players and at this point but I am comfortable with the players I am using and Abdul has come off the bench and done a great job for the team. The team is good, the guys are coming together well and our team chemistry is improving daily and we expect that we will play better and better in every game", coach Vincent stated. Other quarter finals pairing, defending champions, Angola who has remain unbeaten so far will square up against group-A fourth place finisher Mali in a game classified as the toughest pairing judging by the pedigree of the physically fit Malian side. It will be an all North African affair when host Algeria battle Morocco who struggle to make the quarterfinals for a semi-final ticket and possibly a shot at one of the world cup ticket. The last quarterfinals will see star-studded Senegalese team taking on Tunisia also on Monday.
Group-A Tunisia 80, Mali 61 Nigeria 86, Cote d’Ivoire 56 Algeria 80, Gabon 52 Nigeria 83, Mali 77 Algeria 84, Tunisia 72 Gabon 69, Cote d’Ivoire 67 Algeria 71, Cote d’Ivoire 58 Nigeria 78, Tunisia 65 Gabon 76, Mali 74 Mali 87, Cote d’Ivoire 71 Tunisia 73, Gabon 65 Algeria 73, Nigeria 72 Cote d’Ivoire 69, Tunisia 65 Nigeria 66, Gabon 57 Mali 83, Algeria 66 Group-B Angola 107, South Africa 42 Senegal 70, Morocco 60 Central Africa 65, Mozambique 50 Angola 67, Senegal 59 Central Africa 66, South Africa 65 Morocco 69, Mozambique 65 Morocco 67, South Africa 60 Angola 77, Central Africa 46 Senegal 79, Mozambique 47 Angola 100, Mozambique 37 Senegal 85, South Africa 45 Central Africa 60, Morocco 49 Senegal 50, Central Africa 42 South Africa 80, Mozambique 59 Angola 75, Morocco 43
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