12 September 2011
NIGERIA : Bakare Blames D'Tigers' Loss On Inexperience
The National basketball team Coach, Ayo Bakare, has blamed inexperience for the D' Tigers 55-70 loss to traditional foes Angola in Saturday's semi-final match of the 10th All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique.
Bakare told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Maputo that his team, compared to their opponents who had been playing together for 10 years, were "green horns and only had a short time to prepare for the Games."
"We prepared as a full team only in the past couple of weeks and we are improving with every match," he said.
NAN reports that the Angolans dominated every area of the game, leaving no space for opposition from the Nigerian team.
Nigeria's male team started their campaign in the tournament on a good note with a 71-63 defeat of Rwanda in their opening match.
The D' Tigers led in the first two quarters of the game but lost concentration and allowed their opponents to gain on them in the last two quarters 14-10, 17-4, 16-22 and 24-27.
Commenting on the opening match, the president, Nigeria Basketball Federation, Tijani Umar, had said that opening games were usually difficult and commended the players for the victory.
"It was a good match. The opening victory will boost the confidence
Bakare told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Maputo that his team, compared to their opponents who had been playing together for 10 years, were "green horns and only had a short time to prepare for the Games."
"We prepared as a full team only in the past couple of weeks and we are improving with every match," he said.
NAN reports that the Angolans dominated every area of the game, leaving no space for opposition from the Nigerian team.
Nigeria's male team started their campaign in the tournament on a good note with a 71-63 defeat of Rwanda in their opening match.
The D' Tigers led in the first two quarters of the game but lost concentration and allowed their opponents to gain on them in the last two quarters 14-10, 17-4, 16-22 and 24-27.
Commenting on the opening match, the president, Nigeria Basketball Federation, Tijani Umar, had said that opening games were usually difficult and commended the players for the victory.
"It was a good match. The opening victory will boost the confidence
# posted by afrbk : 13:48
