The latest FIBA ranking released on Friday reveals that Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, has fallen by four places.
D’Tigers now hold the 42nd position in the world ranking, sliding down from 39th.
In the continent, the former African champions secured the sixth position with a total of 299.7 points.
South Sudan made a significant leap from 34th to 23rd in the FIBA World Ranking, emerging as the top-ranked African team, surpassing Cote d’Ivoire.
Angola, Tunisia, and Egypt complete the top five teams in Africa.
The Olympic champions, the U.S., maintained their lead, while Serbia climbed two spots to secure the second position with a total of 758.9 points, surpassing Germany.
Calls from basketball enthusiasts urge prompt action to bring D’Tigers back to prominence in the rankings.
Femi Olatubosun, a fan, expressed concern over D’Tigers’ decline, highlighting the lack of competitiveness compared to previous years.
Noting the team’s absence from major championships, Olatubosun emphasized the need for friendly matches before the Africa Cup qualifiers.
Anthony Bernard criticized the federation for neglecting the once-powerhouse D’Tigers in African basketball.
Highlighting the importance of regaining competitive form, Bernard called for organizing friendly matches to improve rankings both in Africa and globally.
D’Tigers held the top spot among African teams before the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and are the only African team to defeat the U.S. national team.
NAN.