Nigeria’s D’Tigers survived a tense finish to beat Guinea 80-79 in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers, giving their campaign a major lift in Luanda.
The victory came in dramatic fashion, with Chimezie Metu delivered the decisive late basket to seal the one-point win for Nigeria.
Nigeria Survive Guinea Fightback
The final score was Nigeria 80-79 Guinea at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda in Angola.
D’Tigers started strongly, taking the first quarter 23-17 before both teams scored 23 points each in the second quarter. That gave Nigeria a 46-40 halftime lead.
Guinea responded after the break, winning the third quarter 28-16 to move ahead and put Nigeria under pressure going into the final period.
Metu Delivers Late For D’Tigers
Nigeria needed a strong closing quarter, and they found it.
D’Tigers outscored Guinea 18-11 in the fourth quarter, turning a difficult finish into a statement of resilience with Metu registering the late basket that decided the contest.
Metu’s floating jumper with three seconds left proved the difference in the qualifier. The win also ended Guinea’s unbeaten run in the campaign.
Qualification Push Gains Momentum
The result is a significant boost for Nigeria’s World Cup qualification hopes. FIBA lists the game as part of the First Round of the 2027 African Qualifiers, with Nigeria and Guinea competing in Group C.
For D’Tigers, the value of the win goes beyond the scoreline. They protected their campaign, survived a late scare and showed they could still find a winning play when the pressure was highest.
That matters in qualification basketball, where narrow margins can decide momentum, standings and confidence.
D’Tigers Must Build From Luanda
Nigeria still need to keep the pressure high through the remaining qualification route.
The win over Guinea gives D’Tigers a platform, but not a final destination. Their bigger task is to carry the same late-game discipline into the next phase of the campaign.
For now, Nigeria have the result they needed.
One basket, one point and one tense night in Luanda have kept D’Tigers moving in the race toward the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
