A 68-80 loss to lowly-ranked Uganda on Tuesday in Kigali, Rwanda, brought Nigeria’s D’Tigers’ FIBA AfroBasket campaign, 2021 to a close on a disappointing note.

The Nigerian senior men’s basketball team, who won the competition in 2015, now qualified for this Qualification to Quarter-Finals match by finishing second in Group C.

However, in their match against Uganda on Tuesday at the Kigali Arena, who had finished with third place in Group D, the Nigerian team was unable to make a convincing impression.

They were defeated 12-24 and 19-20 in the first two sets, leaving them down by 13 points at the halfway stage. Following an 18-23 loss in the third quarter, which increased their deficit to 18 points. However, they were able to win the fourth quarter, 19-13.

But it was too little, too late, as Uganda raced away with a 12-point victory to move to the quarter-finals of the championship, where they will meet Cape Verde on Thursday.

Uzodinma Utomi was the standout performer for Nigeria in the match against Uganda. He had 23 points, three rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two blocks. Andrew Edogi added seven rebounds to utomi 3, while Ikenna Ndugba sent out six.

According to the National News Agency (NAN), in other Qualification to Quarter-Finals matches played on Monday, Angola defeated Egypt 70-62 to secure a quarter-final match with Senegal.

Guinea, meanwhile, defeated Rwanda 72-68 to move to the quarter-finals, where they will face Cote d’Ivoire next Wednesday.

In the final quarter-final match, Tunisia will face the winner of South Sudan vs Kenya match, which is to take place later on Tuesday. The match will take place on Thursday.

The competition, which is held every four years, will come to a close on Sunday afternoon.

Nigeria’s D’Tigers will have to wait another 4 years to attempt bringing the title home.