Coach Ayo Bakare, Head Coach of D’Tigers has expressed happiness at his team’s victory over Central African Republic (CAR), a team the D’Tigers defeated 112-75. Bakare told newsmen in Abidjan that he resolved with his team not to underrate any team in the competition, but to approach every match as it came.“

We will not underrate any team. No team in the competition is a push-over, but I think the result of the game against Central Africa Republic showed that the boys listened to my instructions.“We are going to remain focused in the games ahead. I must say that it has been a good one for us,” he said.

The D’Tigers progressed unbeaten since they began their campaign in the tournament. In the three matches played in the first round, the Nigerians defeated Mali 74-59, Congo 93-75 and Cameroon 91-84.With the defeat of Central African Republic, the D’Tigers will be playing Senegal in the quarter-finals.

Earlier in the second round matches played on Tuesday, Senegal defeated Rwanda 67-60; Cape Verde beat Congo 67-60 while Egypt beat Tunisia 77-67. The Nigerian team stands a chance of winning the World Cup ticket, if they qualify for the finals of the continental championship. However, a loss in the semi-final would still offer them an opportunity to pick-up the third ticket if they merely win a third place match.