Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Philip Shaibu, has urged Nigeria’s D’Tigers to put their defeat to Cameroon behind them and remain focused on their campaign in the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers.
D’Tigers suffered a 78-62 defeat to the Cameroonians in a keenly contested encounter, which marked the opening fixture of the second window of Group E of the qualifiers.
Despite the loss, Shaibu commended the Nigerian players for their fighting spirit and determination, noting that the team showed flashes of quality and a strong never-say-die attitude throughout the encounter.
He said the performance demonstrated the squad’s potential and ability to bounce back stronger in their remaining fixtures.
The NIS boss on Friday, therefore, charged the players, technical crew and the leadership of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), headed by Musa Kida, not to allow the opening setback to dampen their resolve.
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According to Shaibu, the qualification campaign is still ongoing, with sufficient opportunities for D’Tigers to recover lost ground and strengthen their chances of securing a place at the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
He expressed confidence that greater focus, improved execution and stronger teamwork could help the Nigerian side return to winning ways in subsequent matches.
Shaibu also reaffirmed the commitment of the National Institute for Sports to the growth and development of basketball and other sporting disciplines in the country.
He called on Nigerian basketball fans and other stakeholders to continue supporting D’Tigers as they seek to bounce back and keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive.
