Shocking D’Tigers defeat as Guinea beat Nigeria 69 to 55 in FIBA World Cup qualifiers, ending a historic run and raising concerns for the team’s campaign

A Shocking D’Tigers defeat unfolded on Saturday as Nigeria fell 69 to 55 to Guinea in the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers, marking their first loss to the Guineans in nearly four decades.

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Guinea controlled the encounter from the opening minutes, outplaying Nigeria in what became a largely one sided contest. The victory was their first over D’Tigers in four attempts since 1985, signalling a significant shift in momentum on the African basketball stage.

Souleyman Boum Jr and Shannon Evans delivered a combined 40 points, driving Guinea to a perfect two wins from two in the opening round of qualifiers.

Their relentless pace exposed Nigeria’s struggles and kept the pressure on throughout.

The Shocking D’Tigers Defeat followed Nigeria’s opening day loss to Tunisia, leaving Coach Abdulrahman Mohamed with mounting concerns as his side faces an increasingly uphill qualification battle.

Nigeria trailed 22 to 16 after the first quarter and went into the break at 35 to 26, unable to find rhythm or sustained control.

Although D’Tigers showed brief improvement in the third quarter, Guinea maintained their composure and extended their lead in the closing stages. The final margin of 14 points reflected the gulf in execution and confidence between the two teams.

Guinea’s Serbian coach, Nedeljko Asceric, credited the win to their defensive strength. He explained that holding Nigeria to 27 per cent shooting was the defining factor, describing the performance as a powerful statement of intent.

The result also underscores Guinea’s rise. After returning to elite basketball in 2017 following a 32 year absence, they shocked top ranked South Sudan at the 2025 AfroBasket and have continued to build their presence on the continent.

Nigeria now turn their attention to Rwanda in today’s final game of the initial phase. All teams will meet again in the second phase of qualifiers, from which the top three sides will progress to the final qualification round.

Only the top five African teams will earn a place at the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar, scheduled for August 27 to September 12.

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The Shocking D’Tigers Defeat has raised pressing questions for Nigeria as they attempt to salvage their campaign.