SAN FRANCISCO, November 06, (THEWILL) – D’ Tigers of Nigeria have emerged the inaugural champions in the men’s category of the 2017 FIBA 3X3 Africa Cup beating Cote d’ Ivoire in the final game by 21 to 9 points.

The Nigerian team, led by Azuoma Dike, had defeated Egypt 21-14 points in the semi-finals and were unstoppable against the Ivoriens.

Abdul Yahaya, who scored a total of 39 points in five games, Godwin David and Lucky Subel all gave a good account of themselves to ensure victory for Nigeria in the finals.

Nigeria’s Dike earned the MVP honors as Cheick Tidiane Traore of Cote d’Ivoire and Madagascar’s Elly Randriamampionona gave him company on the team of the tournament held in Lomé, Togo on November 3-5, 2017.

Dike, a member of Nigeria’s silver winning squad at the AfroBasket 2017 in Tunisia, made a smooth transition to 3×3 as the 27-year-old scored a total of 30 points in 5 games.

However, Mali proved too powerful for the D’Tigress in the final as they emerged 12-11points winners in a keenly contested game.

Despite settling for the Silver medal, Nigeria’s Nkechi Akashili was named as one of the top 3 players alongside Mali’s Nassira Traore and Jamla Nasikombi of Uganda.

This is the second major title won under the new NBBF after the D’Tigress went 8 games unbeaten to emerge African champions in Mali.

Final standings of the FIBA 3×3 Africa Cup 2017:

Women

1.Mali
2.Nigeria
3.Uganda
4.Cote d’Ivoire
5.Egypt
6.Ghana
7.Togo
8.Niger
9.Mauritania
10.Gambia

Men

1.Nigeria
2.Cote d’Ivoire
3.Madagascar
4.Egypt
5.Togo
6.Mali
7.Benin
8.Uganda
9.Ghana
10.Mauritania
11.Niger
12.Gambia