NIGERIA

Roster: G Tony Skinn, F Ekene Ibekwe, F Ike Diogu, F Al-Farouq Aminu, G Ade Dagunduro, G Chamberlain Oguchi, F Koko Archibong, G Richard Oruche, F Ejike Ugboaja, F Derrick Obasohan, C Alade Aminu, C Olumide Oyedeji

Coach: Ayo Bakare. He coaches the Ebun Comets in Nigeria's pro league. He also coached Nigeria's national team in the mid-1990s and early-2000s before Nigeria used to American coaches (Sam Vincent and Robert McCullum).

Qualification: Finished third by beating the Dominican Republic at Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Venezuela in July.

Best Olympic finish: First Olympics

Results of Previous Games in London 2012: Nigeria 60 Tunisia 56 , Nigeria 53 Lithuania 72 , Nigeria 73 USA 156, Nigeria 79 Argentina 93

Players you know: F Al-Farouq Aminu, who played college ball at Wake Forest, averaged six points and 4.7 rebounds for the New Orleans Hornets last season. … PG Tony Skinn played on the George Mason team that reached the Final Four in 2006. Skinn, who has spent his professional career in France, Italy and Germany, averaged 10 points and 2.8 assists in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. … F Ike Diogu, who played at Arizona State and averaged six points for six teams in six NBA seasons, averaged 16.8 points and 10.8 rebounds in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. … F Alade Aminu, Al-Farqouq's brother, played at Georgia Tech and has spent last season playing in France. F Ekene Ibekwe played at Maryland.

Expert Analysis: The key with Nigeria and the reason they had success in the Qualifying Tournament is that they play very, very hard and with passion and energy on defense. Diogu is an NBA-level player. Al-Farouq Aminu is certainly an NBA player. They're not going to medal, but they played their win in on the basis of toughness and team chemistry. The Nigerian players I've been around have a fierceness about them. They just play very confidently. They're very quick to the ball. They get all those 50-50 balls. They play very loose. Diogu has done a nice job down low. Their guard play has been good. They're a fun team to watch because of the way they attack and they play very free.

FRANCE

Roster: F Nicolas Batum, G Yannick Bokolo, G Fabien Causeur, G Nando De Colo, F Boris Diaw, F Yakhouba Diawara, F Mickael Gelabale, G Tony Parker, F Florent Pietrus, C Kevin Seraphin, F Ali Traore, C Ronny Turiaf

Coach: Vincent Collet. A former pro player in France, Collet took over the national team in 2009. He is also the head coach for Asvel Lyon-Villeurbanne.

Qualification: Finished second at 2011 European championship

Best Olympic finish: Silver in 1948 and 2000

2008 Olympics: Did not qualify

Results of Previous Games in London 2012: France 71 USA 98 , France 71 Argentina 64 , France 82 Lithuania 74 , France 73 Tunisia 69

Players you know: G Tony Parker, who sustained an eye injury when a fight broke out a New York club recently, averaged 22.1 points and 4.4 assists at the 2011 European championship and 18.3 points and 6.3 assists for the San Antonio Spurs last season. … F-G Nic Batum just received a multiyear deal from the Portland Trail Blazers. He averaged 13.8 points and 3.2 rebounds in the 2011 European Championship and 13.9 points and 4.6 rebounds for the Blazers last season. … F Boris Diaw played for the Spurs last season, F Kevin Seraphin for the Washington Wizards and C Ronny Turiaf ended the season with the Miami Heat. Also, G Nando De Colo will play for the Spurs next season. He averaged 8.8 points in the 2010 World Championship and 6.5 points at the 2011 European Championship.

Expert Analysis: "France is going to put multiple NBA players on the floor but outside of Tony Parker we're not talking about the caliber of NBA player Team USA has at its disposal. France is one of those teams where I would say they're an any-given-night team. They get up and down the floor. They will attack. They're a very good driving team, led by Tony Parker, who gets in the paint. Their offensive is keyed on how Tony plays."

SOURCE

Who cares about hw they will fare ,tax money wasters

dem still dey London dey waste our moni abi dem miss their return flight?

In the spirit of sportmanship and love for country, they shld concede the game to France and catch the next plane back home.

you get me bruv...such dissappoitments..
why should we have to fast and pray everytime nigeria is playing

hollandis: Who cares about hw they will fare ,tax money wasters

D'tigers can still qualify, but dey have to rely on Tunisia winning Lithuania and of course dey have to win France

we beat tunisia lol lithuania will sheet on them

akintun: D'tigers can still qualify, but dey have to rely on Tunisia winning Lithuania and of course dey have to win France

WHY THIS ON FRONT PAGE

I really cant go thru this again

aramstoks: you get me bruv...such dissappoitments..
why should we have to fast and pray everytime nigeria is playing

slimdiggi: I really cant go thru this again

It's a new day with new beginnings they might just pull through this time around

We go win

What can I say! I wish D'TIGERS get it right this time!! GO TIGERS!!!

lets stop deceiving ourselves,, we cant win france!

has nigeria even won any medals yet?

blackmale: lets stop deceiving ourselves,, we cant win france!

I really pity d tigers. They must be demoralised by now. Buh let them put in their best! All d best tigers

We gona win dis one

Freesia:



It's a new day with new beginnings they might just pull through this time around

lets not decieve ourselves anymore,its all good to be optimistic but we are no more tigers,domestic cats is more like it

tigers indeed...more like Tiger Head batteries

linearity: dem still dey London dey waste our moni abi dem miss their return flight?

In the spirit of sportmanship and love for country, they shld concede the game to France and catch the next plane back home.

my brother you've said it all. Let them stop wasting our time and come back.

I Love this Team Nigeria... They rily tried 4 us... But FRANCE go beat us so teh, we no gree Come back to 9ja again..

Je soutien le Nigeria.

NO CHANCE FOR THE TIGERS


http://london2012.bbc.co.uk/basketball/event/men/index.html

*eating popcorn* The best point they can get is a draw

greall1: WHY THIS ON FRONT PAGE

Ask GEJ or Google

akintun: D'tigers can still qualify, but dey have to rely on Tunisia winning Lithuania and of course dey have to win France

I always wonder why we av 2 play permutation before any of our major team qualify, d same 4 super eagles(turkey)..if Panama beat Seychelles den we have to score 4 goals against...I admire the d'tigers but threw it all away by losin 2 Lithuania. Wish mother luck will smile on dem o.

not xpectin anytin special frm d'*wateva*

Professional web solutions...

Another one.

i pray for my dear beloved country to win the watch in Jesus name (Amen).

did y'all see d tunisia lithuania game? Dey cn stil qualify if.....they win by as much as abt a 100pts diff

tunisia messed up d game. At a point in d 3rd qtr, they were leading by as much as 11pts.

Oh! not again.. I can't got through this the third time. Count me out of this match. I wish them luck sha.

Nigeria is 99percent out of d Olympics. D'tigers can only qualify if dey win France by a very very very very very wide margin. Far greater Dan d margin we lost to America.