Team Hungary delivered a commanding performance on home soil as they defeated Nigeria 77-51 in a group-stage clash at the FIBA U-19 Basketball World Cup.
From the opening whistle, the Hungarian side set the pace with disciplined defense and sharp shooting, quickly establishing a double-digit lead in the first quarter. Nigeria struggled to find rhythm offensively, hampered by turnovers and missed opportunities in the paint.
Hungary’s dominance was led by forward Bence Kovács, who recorded 18 points and 9 rebounds, while guard Márton Tóth added 15 points with three three-pointers. The hosts also impressed defensively, holding Nigeria to just 31% shooting from the field.
Despite a spirited effort in the third quarter, Nigeria couldn’t close the gap. Chukwuemeka Eze was the standout for the D’Tigers U-19s, finishing with 14 points and 7 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to shift the momentum.
The loss places Nigeria in a tough position heading into their next group match, where a win will be crucial to advancing to the knockout stage. Head coach Emmanuel Odah acknowledged the team’s struggles, saying, “We didn’t execute our game plan well today. We’ll go back, regroup, and come back stronger.”
Hungary, meanwhile, remains unbeaten and looks to build on their strong form as they eye a deep run in the tournament.
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