Members of the Nigeria basketball squad to the London 2012 Olympics have conceded defeat to Lithuania following their clash on Tuesday. The Europeans defeated Nigeria 72-53 in a Group A match played at the Basketball Arena of the Stratford Olympic Park.
Al-Farouq Aminu who made double-double outing with 12 points and 11 rebounds said their opponents took a different approach from their last encounter and won the game. Nigeria had defeated Lithuania by a point in the FIBA Olympic qualifiers held in Caracas, Venezuela this month.
He said, “They had a different team today – different approach, different mentality and a little adjustment of the roster. They had much better offence and that worked for them. They have been together for a long time and that also showed today.”
His teammate and shooting guard Chamberlain Oguchi had similar view.
“They brought down their shots; they got a very good percentage. We could not get most of ours and that made the difference. Our offence could not carry us as much as it did the first time we met. Today was just their day despite our fight back,” Oguchi said.
A guard of the Lithuania team Antanas Kavaliauskas who was in the team that lost in Caracas said the Nigerians met his expectations.
“I expected a very good opponent and they made us work hard. Nigerian team is good but today I believe we played better and won the game,” he said
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