2025 FIBA AfroBasket Qualifiers: D’Tigers coach blames second loss in a row on fatigue
Eke disagrees, says the team must wake up
D’Tigers head coach Mohamed Abdulrahman says fatigue has a lot to do with his side’s uninspiring display so far after losing for the second day in a row at the ongoing 2025 FIBA AfroBasket Qualifiers.
D’Tigers lost 72-62 in the Group B encounter to Uganda who had former Rivers Hoopers player, Robinson Opong who came up with a performance for the ages to ensure Nigeria’s fall.
Opong, the only Ugandan to score in double digits, established a record for most points scored in a single game of the new format of the AfroBasket
Qualifiers.
The previous AfroBasket Qualifiers scoring record belonged to Opong’s national team teammate Ishmail Wainwright who scored 36 points against Cape Verde in
the second window of the 2021 AfroBasket Qualifiers in Alexandria, Egypt.
Abdulrahman however believes his team have not had enough rest after arriving a few hours to their opening game on Friday.
‘Fatigue played a part [in the loss]. These guys are pros, they have been in situations like this before, they are going to find a way
to motivate themselves.
‘It’s something I don’t think I have to worry about. They are committed to play and win for the country. The biggest motivation is the
high expectation from over two hundred million people back home that expect them not come here and go 0-3. 1-2 is much better than 0-3,’ said Abdulrahman
One of D’Tigers players, Devine Eke who led Nigeria with 19 points isn’t going for the fatigue excuse.
‘At the end of the day, no matter if it’s fatigue. We just need to be play our game the correct way,’ said Eke.
While Uganda will face Libya in Sunday’s clash, Nigeria will play Cape Verde.
