Angola win Group C after win over Nigeria

 

LUANDA (Angola) - Angola were far from playing a convincing and attractive game, but they managed to beat Nigeria 57-48 and advanced to the 2023 FIBA AfroCan Quarter-Finals.

The tournament hosts turned the ball over 30 times, but Nigeria could only score 19 points off Angola's sloppy plays.

While the Angolans remain undefeated (2-0), Nigeria dropped to 1-1 in Group C.

TURNING POINT: Kanyisola Odufuwa opened the score with a two-point play that gave Nigeria their only lead of the game before Glofate Buiamba hit a three-point that put Angola in front and they never trailed again.

At some point, Angola led by as many as 22 points.

And despite outscoring Angola 15-8 in the final quarter, Nigeria paid the price for allowing easy baskets early in the game.

Glofate Buiamba 

HEROES : Although Buiamba - the only Angola to score in double figures - finished with 13 points, Wilson Cassav came off the bench to change the dynamic of the game for Angola, finishing with eight points and eight rebounds in 19 minutes.

Cassav was 4 for 4 from the field, although he missed his two free-throw attempts. 

Angola coach Anibal Moreira chose to praise his players' effort rather than single out one player: "I am glad we came up with the win even though we had 30 turnovers," said the former Olympian point guard.

STATS DON'T LIE: A relatively shorter roster compared to Nigeria, Angola dominated the boards battle, out-rebounding Nigeria 51-38.

The only reason why Nigeria failed to capitalise from Angola's sloppy plays and came up short was because of their poor shooting. Nigeria converted only 12 of their 56 shooting attempts, which resulted in a 21.4 percent shooting. 

With Nigeria's starting line-up struggling to score, their bench couldn't do any better, falling 34-13 comparing to Angola's substitutes. 

Micheal Afuwape

BOTTOM LINE: Nigeria needed a collective effort, but Micheal Afuwape was a one-man show as he finished with 15 points and 10 - the only Nigerian to score and rebound in double figures.

How can a team lose a game when an opponent turn the ball over a whooping 30 times? This is one the questions that Nigeria will need to answer if they are to have a chance of reaching the Quarter-Finals.

Angola won their group with a 2-0 mark, but they are yet to prove they are a champion caliber team.

THEY SAID: "The game against Angola was tough. We dug ourselves into a hole early in the first two quarters and we just couldn't find our way out. You don't expect to win a basketball game by committing 23 turnovers and giving up 15 offensive boards. We have to do a good job at protecting our board and knowing how to start the game strong. We lost, and we lost very well." - Nigerian head coach Ogoh Odaudu.

"This is a young group of players who need to more experience to play at this level. Even tough our opponents are, in theory, superior to us, we are going to fight until the end and other teams will need to prove on the floor that they are better than us." Angola head coach Anibal Moreira.

FIBA