Olympic Basketball: France ends Nigeria campaign

::::::::With much determination and hype as underdogs in the basketball event of
London 2012 Olympics, Nigeria’s D’Tigers fought a good fight but lost out of
the competition on Monday.
The Nigerians, who began their campaign with 60-56 victory against African
champions, Tunisia, lost Monday’s last group game 79-73 points to France,
completing a four-match losing streak in their first ever Olympic
appearance.
Earlier, D’Tigers lost their second game against Lithuania by 72-53 points,
while the defending champions, USA, created a record by defeating the
Nigerian team 156-73 points.
D’Tigers did not fare better in their match against South American
champions, Argentina, who compounded Nigeria’s woes with 93-79 points.
While Monday’s last group match was dubbed a mere formality tie for
D’Tigers, the coach Ayo Bakare-tutored side did not end it well to move near
the quarter final of the Olympic Games.
Starting on a slow pace, the Nigerians were out-dunked by the French team,
captained by NBA star, Tony Parker in both the first quarter which ended
23-10 points, and the fourth quarter by 23-19 points.
With consistent efforts of 3 pointers from Chamberlain Oguchi, Nigeria won
the second and third quarters by 20-18 and 24-15 points respectively, to
finish fifth in their group, one spot ahead of Africa’s other representative,
Tunisia.
Inujries to Ade Dagunduro and Tony Skinn denied Nigeria an expected full
strength in their last two games.
Tunisia, who travelled to London 2012 as African champions, finished their
campaign without a victory, as they lost all their games including Monday’s
last match, which they lost by 76-63points to Lithuania.
However, America lead the quarter finalists from Group A, which include:
Argentina, France and Lithuania, while Spain, Russia, Australia and Brazil
booked their tickets for the last eight in Group B. Wednesday Quarter final.
Q/Final Fixtures For
Wednesday, 8 August, 2012
Australia Vs USA,
Lithuania Vs Russia
Argentina Vs Brazil
SpainVs France