Chimezie Metu delivered the game-winner with 3 seconds left as Nigeria defeated Guinea 80-79 in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers.
D’Tigers’ dramatic win came on Friday, July 3, 2026, at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda in Luanda, in a tightly contested game that featured multiple lead changes, momentum swings, and a finish that went right down to the wire.
With just 3 seconds remaining in the final quarter, Chimezie Metu knocked down a floating two-point jumper to flip the score from a 78-79 deficit to an 80-79 lead for Nigeria. That basket proved to be the dagger, marking the final lead change and ultimately sealing the win for Nigeria.
Guinea still had one last chance to steal the game, but Souleymane Boum Jr missed a pull-up three-pointer from the backcourt with 2 seconds left. Had it gone down, Guinea would have snatched an 80-82 victory.
Caleb Agada led the way for Nigeria, finishing with 22 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and a game-high 4 steals in 26:54 of action. He shot 7-of-13 from the field, 3-of-7 from beyond the arc, and 5-of-6 from the line, posting a 20 index rating and a +4 plus/minus. Uche Iroegbu provided a steady hand at guard, adding 14 points and 6 assists without a single turnover in 20:41, along with 2 steals and a 15 efficiency.
Kaodirichi Nkemjika Akobundu-Ehiogu anchored the interior for Nigeria, contributing 10 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block. He was efficient, going 3-of-4 from the field and 4-of-6 at the stripe, finishing with a 17 efficiency and a +2 plus/minus.
On the other side, Sekou Doumbouya paced Guinea with a game-high 23 points and 6 rebounds in 34:08, keeping his team in contention throughout.
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