Nigeria Wins Final Olympic Men's Basketball Bid (Pictures Included)

Date: 09-07-2012 9:09 am (11 years ago) | Author: franel
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- at 9-07-2012 09:09 AM (11 years ago)
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«§» 9 July 2012

In a surprising upset, Nigeria earned the final spot in the men's basketball field in the Olympics with an 88-73 victory over the Dominican Republic on Sunday night.


It was a do-or-die game for both teams, the third-place game in a tournament that sends the top-three teams to London.

Very few people had Nigeria penciled in to even make it this far, as Nigeria is making its first-ever Olympic berth in basketball. 2012 is the first year that two African teams have made the Olympics.

The Nigerians were able to overcome the heavily favored Dominicans, who were coached by John Calipari and featured Atlanta Hawks All-Star Al Horford, primarily on the strength of their front line.

They surprised their rivals with fast breaks and solid defense. Diogu, a forward who plays for Puerto Rico's Capitanes de Arecibo team, received the tournament's Most Valuable Player award.

"I'm very happy. We did what had to be done," Diogu said. "We knew we were going to face teams that are heavyweights, and we did what we needed to do - win."

Ike Diogu, a five-year NBA veteran who appeared in only two games last season, was dominant, with a 25/10 double-double, including a few back-breaking threes late in the fourth quarter. He was aided by Al-Farouq Aminu, a raw but extremely athletic young forward for the New Orleans Hornets who battled Horford to a draw for most of the game.

The Dominicans struggled to stop Nigeria's powerful offense, but forward Yack Martinez help prevent a lopsided victory, scoring 16 points and grabbing several rebounds.

Russia and Lithuania also qualified with semifinals victories Saturday.

In London, Lithuania and Nigeria will join the United States, Tunisia, France and Argentina in Group A. Russia, China, Britain, Brazil, Australia and Spain are in Group B.


Nigeria will probably be just as a big an underdog in London as they were in Caracas, but the size of Aminu and Diogu give them a chance to make some noise.


Posted: at 9-07-2012 09:09 AM (11 years ago) | Hero
- franel at 9-07-2012 10:02 AM (11 years ago)
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Right from the past, I always tell myself that this TIGERS will one day make us proud.

This is the first and won't be the last. The trophy is what they are smiling at to bring HOME.

GO TIGERS

Posted: at 9-07-2012 10:02 AM (11 years ago) | Hero
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- Idbabe at 9-07-2012 10:35 AM (11 years ago)
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Congrats
Posted: at 9-07-2012 10:35 AM (11 years ago) | Hero
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- fextux at 9-07-2012 12:49 PM (11 years ago)
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Congrats d Tigers!!!!!qualifyin is wort it!!!!!!!!

Posted: at 9-07-2012 12:49 PM (11 years ago) | Upcoming
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- aso4life1 at 10-07-2012 08:19 AM (11 years ago)
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I am proud of them cos they did it in a big way on the big stage...congrats

Posted: at 10-07-2012 08:19 AM (11 years ago) | Hero
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- dlimelite at 10-07-2012 05:16 PM (11 years ago)
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Congratulation!!! Win big
Posted: at 10-07-2012 05:16 PM (11 years ago) | Hero
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- Senegal at 10-07-2012 05:56 PM (11 years ago)
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Good news
Posted: at 10-07-2012 05:56 PM (11 years ago) | Hero
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- Solidstonez at 10-07-2012 06:30 PM (11 years ago)
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CONGRATS

Posted: at 10-07-2012 06:30 PM (11 years ago) | Addicted Hero
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- BendelArmedRobb at 10-07-2012 07:12 PM (11 years ago)
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una too much!!! coffee wey I dey drink for hia comot for my nose as I read this
Posted: at 10-07-2012 07:12 PM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac
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- Larrykingomoj at 10-07-2012 08:21 PM (11 years ago)
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Make una fight hard for London.
Posted: at 10-07-2012 08:21 PM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac
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- nonsovin at 10-07-2012 08:54 PM (11 years ago)
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I NO EVEN KNOW SAY NIGERIA DEY PLAY BB!   CONGRATS and  GOOD LUCK WITHOUT JONATAN  Grin
Posted: at 10-07-2012 08:54 PM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac
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- malvin2525 at 11-07-2012 07:14 AM (11 years ago)
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 Undecided
Posted: at 11-07-2012 07:14 AM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac
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- dickman2 at 11-07-2012 02:39 PM (11 years ago)
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ok..
Posted: at 11-07-2012 02:39 PM (11 years ago) | Addicted Hero
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- chicco77 at 11-07-2012 02:42 PM (11 years ago)
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 Cool
Posted: at 11-07-2012 02:42 PM (11 years ago) | Addicted Hero
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- caramel-baby at 11-07-2012 03:59 PM (11 years ago)
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Congrats boys! With all the bad news going on in naija, at least something good and positive is happening! I wish them all the luck and I hope they can bring some medals!

Posted: at 11-07-2012 03:59 PM (11 years ago) | Newbie
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- mallorca at 11-07-2012 09:52 PM (11 years ago)
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i dislike BB but congrats any way

Posted: at 11-07-2012 09:52 PM (11 years ago) | Addicted Hero
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- dickman2 at 12-07-2012 12:52 PM (11 years ago)
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Quote from: mallorca on 11-07-2012 09:52 PM
i dislike BB but congrats any way
Roll Eyes Roll Eyes Roll Eyes Roll Eyes Roll Eyes Roll Eyes
Posted: at 12-07-2012 12:52 PM (11 years ago) | Addicted Hero
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- franel at 12-07-2012 04:25 PM (11 years ago)
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Quote from: caramel-baby on 11-07-2012 03:59 PM
Congrats boys! With all the bad news going on in naija, at least something good and positive is happening! I wish them all the luck and I hope they can bring some medals!

yes o

Posted: at 12-07-2012 04:25 PM (11 years ago) | Hero
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- Solidstonez at 16-07-2012 08:23 AM (11 years ago)
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 Cool Cool Cool Cool Cool

Posted: at 16-07-2012 08:23 AM (11 years ago) | Addicted Hero
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- richi192 at 16-07-2012 01:04 PM (11 years ago)
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 Roll Eyes Roll Eyes Roll Eyes

Posted: at 16-07-2012 01:04 PM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac
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