D’Tigers rounded off their 2021 FIBA Afrobasket championship qualifiers with an emphatic 76-56 points win over Mali on Friday.

The win which saw the team finishing strong atop group B on a 6-0 run was spearheaded by Nigerian basketball legend, Ike Diogu who posted a double-double 20pts and 11 assists haul.

With a 42.9 field goal percentage and 3 made threes from 7 attempted shots, Diogu ensured a smooth victory for the team whose immediate focus will be the 2020 Olympics and Afrobasket preparations.

After back-to-back struggles against South Sudan and Rwanda, basketball fans across the continent saw a different team which extended its unbeaten run in competitive games to nine.

The team mindful of the task ahead came out smoking with Ike Iroegbu and Mike Gbinije leading the offensive in the opening minutes as they raced to a 24-7 lead.

Michael Gbinije ended with 10pts, 5 rebounds and 2 steals as Keith Omoerah continued his rich form in the national colors with 10pts, 4rebs and 3steals on a day that all 10 players who stepped on court got on the scoreboard.

Africa’s top ranked team were superior in every way as they out-rebounded their opponents 48-39, scoring 15pts from turnovers as against 14 by the Malians.

The team scored 16 fast break points, Mali only managed 7 and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics bound D’Tigers sank 18 second chance points to cap off an impressive win.

Nigeria topped group B with 12 maximum points. New entrants, South Sudan finished second, Mali third and the host of the 2021 Afrobasket, Rwanda finished bottom of the group.

The players are expected to return to their various clubs on Saturday.