Nigeria’s D’Tigers captain, Ike Nwamu, has blamed the team’s defeat to Tunisia on poor organisation and inadequate preparation time, following their opening match in the 2027 FIBA World Cup African qualifiers.
The Nigerian team fell 78-88 to the North Africans in Rades on Thursday, despite a strong start that saw them win the first quarter 15-12. Tunisia fought back to take control by halftime and eventually sealed the victory in the final quarter.
Speaking after the game, Nwamu expressed disappointment over the outcome, citing disjointed play and unfamiliarity within the squad as major setbacks.
“I think we lost because of lack of organisation and we don’t really have time to be together,” he said.
The captain reflected on previous performances and noted that the team has struggled with consistency and ball handling.
“We had a lot of turnovers in the AfroBasket qualifier, but now we lost the turnovers again because of lack of organisation,” he stressed.
Nwamu also highlighted that the roster is still taking shape and players are yet to fully build chemistry.
“It’s like a new team and we are still trying to know each other, and hopefully the game against Guinea will be better,” he added.
D’Tigers will face Guinea next as they continue their quest to secure a ticket to the 2027 World Cup.
