Libya bravely held off Nigeria’s D’Tigers forceful attempt for a comeback to win 89-82 in overtime in the opening game of their 2025 FIBA AfroBasket qualifiers in Monastir, Morocco.
D’Tigers who arrived in Monastir just seven hours before their match against Libya and with minimal training time, displayed remarkable wit and resilience throughout the game.
In the first quarter, the Libyans took charge, outscoring the 2015 Afrobasket champions 25-16. They continued their momentum into the second quarter, extending their lead from nine points to sixteen.
Despite this, D’Tigers staged a comeback, with Divine Eke contributing 11 points and Mike Nuga adding 12, narrowing Libya’s lead to five points by halftime, which concluded with a score of 40-35.
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At halftime, Libya held a statistical edge over Nigeria, particularly in rebounding, leading 24-15, with an impressive 11 offensive rebounds compared to Nigeria’s 3.
Libya maintained their lead, extending it to 10 points by the end of the third quarter, scoring 60-50. Despite D’Tigers spirited effort to close the gap, they fell short, unable to seize the lead.
Nigeria came back outscoring the Libyans 25-15 in the fourth quarter but despite having the final attempt to win the game, they lost the attempt, and the game was forced to overtime at 75-75 after regulation time.
The Libyans outscored Nigeria 14-7 in overtime to claim a memory 89-82 win over a depleted Nigerian team. A giant step in their Afrobasket qualifying campaign.
Mike Nuga emerged as the standout player, scoring a game-high 31 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and one steal. Micheal Afuwape and Divine Eke both had 16 points each. Mike Akhuiete had a game-high 12 rebounds coupled with 8 points. Divine Eke added 10 rebounds to his 16-point game.
Mohamed Sadi was the hero for Libya recording a triple-double of 24 points, 12 assists, 10 steals, and nine rebounds.
In an earlier match, Cape Verde narrowly defeated Uganda 78-73, setting the stage for Nigeria’s upcoming match against Uganda on Saturday.
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