Former African champions, D’Tigers finished the latest qualifying window on Sunday, July 5, without defeat after walloping Rwanda 106-62 points to secure a spot in the Second Round of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African qualifiers.

Group C matches of the qualifiers featuring Nigeria, Guinea, Tunisia and Rwanda were hosted in Luanda, Angola.

In the Angolan capital, Nigeria caused an upset by beating high-flying group leaders Guinea 80-79 and Tunisia 84-81.

The D’Tigers’ dominant performance over Rwanda yesterday was the largest winning margin at that stage of the 2027 World Cup African Qualifiers campaign.

They overcame their 1–2 win–loss record from the first round of Group C, played in November, to advance to the second round of the qualifiers for the 12 teams with an encouraging 4–2 record.

(Daily Trust)

A classic David versus Goliath encounter will take centre stage at the World Cup on Friday as tiny Cape Verde face Lionel Messi and Argentina with a place in the last 16 at stake.

Cape Verde, the smallest nation ever to reach the knockout rounds, face the defending champions in Miami dreaming of pulling off what would be the greatest upset in World Cup history.

The Atlantic archipelago have become one of the fairytale stories of this year’s expanded 48-team tournament, confounding expectations by earning a draw with Spain before squeezing into the last 32 ahead of Group H rivals Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.

Argentina, who breezed into the knockout rounds with the help of six goals from captain Messi, will be expected to swat aside the African qualifiers to move one step closer to their dream of back-to-back World Cup titles.But Cape Verde insist they will not be overawed by the occasion and the prospect of sharing a field with the reigning world champions and eight-time Ballon D’Or winner Messi.

Nigeria’s sports authorities have expressed strong confidence in Team Nigeria’s chances at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with officials projecting a haul of between 16 and 20 gold medals.

The optimism was expressed during the official unveiling of the national team ahead of the competition.

Director-General of the National Institute for Sports, Comrade Philip Shaibu, said the athletes have enjoyed better and earlier preparations than in previous competitions, and noted that all necessary logistics, including training and travel arrangements have been provided, leaving the athletes with the responsibility of delivering success for the country.

Shaibu said the commitment, determination and quality displayed by the athletes have convinced him that Nigeria can achieve at least 20 gold medals at the Games.

He also highlighted ongoing efforts by the National Institute for Sports to strengthen grassroots sports development and expand talent discovery across the country.

Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, stated that preparations for the Games began long before the competition through talent identification and strategic planning.

According to him, the team will arrive in Glasgow about 20 days before the opening of the Games to allow athletes acclimatize and improve their performance.

Meanwhile, the National Sports Commission Director-General, Bukola Olopade, explained that the medal projections are based on careful planning and sustained preparation over the past year and a half. He said the Commission remains committed to providing the support needed for athletes to achieve the country’s targets.

Olopade, however, warned that indiscipline would not be tolerated within Team Nigeria, stressing that athletes must adhere to the Commission’s rules and resolve concerns through official channels, and warned that misconduct or actions capable of damaging the team’s image could attract sanctions, including expulsion from the contingent.