Special Afrobasket 2007: Cape Verde stun Nigeria (62 - 53), moves into last-4

Group A runner-up Cape Verde made history today in Luanda, when it defeated Nigeria and Africa second most rated team in the quarter-finals of the 24th FIBA Africa Championship at the Cidadela pavilion.



The tiny West Africa country showed more determination and zeal to win in the game against Nigeria, though it lost the first quarter to their opponent by a low score-line of 8-6 points, it came back strongly in the second quarter winning by 17-15 point to even score at half-time which ended at 23 points apiece.



The coach Trovoada tutored players overwhelmed Africa’s second rated team, Nigeria in the third quarter with a 22-9 points to open up an 11 points lead going into the fourth and final quarter.



All efforts by the Nigerian who are in Angola without any support from the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF nor the country National Sports Commission, NSC under the firm grip of its Director General, Dr. Amos Adamu who starved the Nigeria basketball body of fund for the championship were thwarted by the Cape Verdeans who lost the quarter by 21-17 points but ran away with a 62-53 points victory to move to the semi-finals.



Marques Houtman had a great game on a day the Nigerian put all their foot and hands wrong with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists, the duo of Rodrigo Mascarehas and Tony Barros added 12 points each.



Nigeria centre, Olumide Oyedeji scored 14 points and 5 rebounds while Chamberlain Oguchi contributed 11 points and 3 rebounds.



With this lose Nigeria became the latest casualty after Senegal as Africa strong basketball playing nation to have fallen by the way side in this championship leaving the like of Egypt, Cape Verde to steal the show and a sign that all is not well in these two countries that placed second and third at the last edition of the championship.



By: Olusegun Ikuesan

FIBA Africa