Coach Odaudu accepts blame for D’Tigers’ failure

D’Tigers in action against Senegal

D’Tigers’ Head Coach, Ogoh Odaudu, has accepted the blame for Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the semifinals of the ongoing FIBA Africa Pre-Olympics qualifiers holding in Lagos.

Nigeria lost the two games of the competition to Senegal and Mali, and failed to qualify for the final of the competition, which offers the winner Africa’s last slot to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Speaking after D’Tigers’ 68-77 loss to Mali on Tuesday, Odaudu said it was a difficult experience for him, especially when his team led in both defeats up till the least quarters of each match.

On Tuesday, D’Tigers won the first quarter 25 to 17 points, took the second by 43 to 38 and the third quarter by 61 to 53 before dramatically crumbling in the fourth quarterto lose the game by 68 to 77 points.

Odaodu said: “I have no explanation for the defeat to Mali. We have made mistakes and I take the blame.

“We did all we could to win on the court, but things did not work out. We did not have the best of preparations, but still I take the blame. Hopefully, we move forward,” he said.

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