•Diogu named MVP
By Joe Apu
AfroBasket 2017 host,Tunisia at the Salle Omnisports de Rades were crowned the new champions of Africa following their win over Nigeria in a thrilling encounter that ended 77-55 points.
Nigeria’s D’ Tigers coached Alex Nwora’s team faced several adversities, including a partisan crowd of 12,000 fans in the Gymnasium, but Tunisia’s head coach Mario Palma did not want any excuses from winning his fifth straight African title.
Two years ago – at the same venue – Nigeria lost to Tunisia in the Group Phase, but they responded with four straight victories to win the trophy for the first time-ever while Tunisia finished in Third-Place. This time, the tide changed with the Tunisians emerging champions.
Most Valuable player of the championship, 34-year-old power forward Ike Diogu – a three-time FIBA AfroBasket participant was at the forefront of Nigeria’s attack and led the floor with 20 points and 10 rebounds but it was not enough to stop the host from running away with victory on home soil in their second attempt. Before now, Diogu had remained an all-round for Nigeria averaging team-highs 22 points and eight rebounds per game.
Tunisia had Ziyed Chennoufi to thank for their AfroBasket 2017 win as his 19 points 2 rebounds made a marked difference for his team in the encounter which saw Nigeria start well 14-8 in the first quarter but lost grip to the host 10-17, 16-27 in the second and third quarters and the comeback was 25-25 but not enough for Nigeria to retain the trophy she won in Tunisia in 2015.