Nigeria Qualifies For Olympics Men's Basketball
- Post 09 July 2012
- Last Updated on 09 July 2012
- By NVS
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Olympics-Nigeria snatch final London basketball berth
(Reuters) - Nigeria will make their Olympic basketball debut in London after beating the Dominican Republic 88-73 in the decisive qualifier on Sunday.
Having arrived in Venezuela as complete underdogs in the 12-team tournament offering three London berths, Nigeria completed their memorable campaign with a resounding victory over the Dominicans - another surprise package.
Apart from the west African nation, who stunned former European champions Greece to reach the last four, Russia and Lithuania have also booked their London berths from this qualifier on Saturday.
The trio will join United States, Argentina, Spain, France, Tunisia, Brazil, Australia and China who had qualified earlier alongside hosts Great Britain.
Nigeria forward Ike Diogu capped an outstanding individual tournament with 25 points and 10 rebounds, confining his Dominican counterpart Al Horford of NBA's Atlanta Hawks to just 12 points and shooting only five of 11 from the field.
With the Dominicans cutting the deficit to just two points at the end of the third quarter, Diogu nailed 10 successive points in the closing stages to send his team mates and a small band of Nigerian supporters into raptures.
"If you are a big-time player you have to relish those moments and that's what I did, having decided to carry my team at crunch time," Diogu told the world basketball governing body's (FIBA) television in a courtside interview.
Forward Derrick Obasohan added: "We had the toughest schedule in the tournament but nothing was going to stop us tonight because we were on a mission.
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Thanks Al-Farouq Aminu of the New Orleans Hornet for fulling your promise. We wish you and your team good outing in London.
I wish Nigerian media will get us excited by telling us more about the Nigerian 2012 Olympic teams.
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As despondent and cynical as one feels about Nigeria these days, It is irresistible to feel heartened by the news of this qualification. PS: - I like the shade of green the team is wearing. - Those guys look like ajebors from abroad.  --
I love their jersey!!
Very clean and neat! Auspy, thats what I thought too... ajebos. But we'll take them all the same. Imagine if they win the gold.... LKF
Impressive!
looking like Boston Celtics I was searching for a list of our young men making us proud They are The Aminu brothers Alfarooq and Alade Aminu Ike Diogu Derrick Obasohan Olumide Ayedeji Ade Dagunduro Richard Oruche Ekene Ibekwe Chamberlin Oguchi Koko Archibong Ejike Ugboaja Tony Skinn (which one is Skinn again) Starters are Center Ike Diogu Power forward Alade Aminu Small Forward Al-Farouq Aminu Shooting Guard Chamberlain Oguchi Point Guard Tony Skinn
One should be proud considering the quality of teams we beat - Lithuania, Greece, etc. They are mostly Nigerian- Americans, but we are proud
Versus Greece Versus Russia Dagundoru and Skinn Aminu Celebrations
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Hehe! The guy at 1:08 don find local chica to folo dance. I thank God for the life of the chic.  --
Shebi most of us here are "Nigerian-something" Fill in the gap, British, American, German, Italian, Canadian...
So long as they are representing Nigeria and doing the country proud, we will take it. Now I have something to even watch in the Olympics I was planning to not bother with. |
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