Nigeria’s U18 D’Tigers concluded the group stage of the FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2026 Zone 3 Qualifiers in emphatic style, cruising to a dominant 101-43 victory over Benin to maintain their perfect record and strengthen their credentials as contenders for continental honours, Trybal News reports.
Having already defeated Benin in the opening game of the tournament, the young Nigerians produced another commanding display in the repeat fixture, controlling proceedings from the opening quarter and extending their advantage throughout the contest.
The victory completed an unbeaten group campaign for Nigeria, who recorded three wins from three games while consistently demonstrating their depth, athleticism and offensive firepower throughout the qualifiers.
Leading the charge was the outstanding Thomas Agbo Okoh, who delivered one of the performances of the tournament with a game-high 35 points and 10 assists. The guard dictated the tempo of the game with his scoring ability and court vision, proving too much for the Beninese defence to handle.
Inside the paint, Ekene Unekwe dominated the boards and controlled the interior battle, finishing with a remarkable double-double of 17 points and 20 rebounds as Nigeria overwhelmed their opponents physically on both ends of the floor.
The latest triumph continues a remarkable run for the D’Tigers, who have swept aside every opponent in the group stage by comfortable margins, sending a strong message to the rest of the field ahead of the knockout rounds.
With momentum firmly on their side and a talented generation beginning to announce itself on the continental stage, Nigeria will now turn its attention to the business end of the competition as the quest for U18 AfroBasket qualification continues.
