Olumide Oyedeji, a former NBA player, on Wednesday advised the Nigeria Basketball Team (D’Tigers) to focus more on defending at the ongoing 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games.
Oyedeji, who was also D’Tigers captain, said this while reacting to the team’s 92-99 defeat to Germany, in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
“We were up by 14 at a time, we just have to make sure that we cut down on our turnover and make sure we improve on our defence.
“We need to make more attempts on shorts, create more chances; the match could have gone either way though.
“They should remember that they have what it takes, they are no fluke having come this far,” Oyedeji said.
The former Team Nigeria captain told NAN that winning the next match would help the players psychologically.
“We shouldn’t believe in shooting too much from outside, we have to go inside and outside so we can make it easier to get get the shot,” Oyedeji said.
Nigeria will play against Italy on July 31, as the team’s chances of qualifying for the next round now hangs in the balance.
The D’Tigers lost their opening Group B game against Australia 84-67.
The team’s next match with Italy on July 31 is a must win. (NAN)
