Nigeria through to Japan, beat Algerian 88-76

Its was a sweet victory for the over 10 million basketball fans back as Nigerian senior national team, D’Tigers powered past Algeria 88-76 to win the third place all important encounter at the just concluded 23rd FIBA Africa Championship formerly known as the Cup of Nations to book a place in the 2006 Japan FIBA World Cup.

The coach Sam Vincent and Scott Nnaji tutored side who lost to the North African 73-72 in a group-A game were up to the task in the third place game described as being tougher than the final played between eventualy winner Angola and Senegal as the race for the world championship third spot depended so much on who carries the day which the Nigerian eventually wins.

The highly temperamental game which saw Nigeria forward Gab Nnadubem Muoneke and the Algerian captain ejected from the game in the first quarter had the host running away with a 19-18 points victory in the first quarter only to succumbed to the superior fire power of the Tunji Awojobi captained side who came into the second quarter more purposeful and hunger for a world cup apprearance which was won by 27-15 points thus opening a 12 points lead.

It was Nigeria all the way in the third quarter with beautiful ball control passes and the display superior skill winning the quarter by 25-21 points but gave up the fourth quarter 21-18 points after opening up a 24 points margin for 88-76 point’s sweet victory.

Lituania based Ime Udoka led the floor on the night with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists, Chamberlain Oguchi contributed 22 points and 4 rebounds to take the sail out of the reach of the angry Algerian

Nigeria now join reigning Africa king Angola who defeated Senegal for the second time in less than ten days (70-61) to retain the diadem it won in 2003 as the three Africa representatives to the 2006 world cup in Japan.