The result meant D’Tigers finished bottom of Pool A with three straight losses, against New Zealand, Canada and Australia.
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The D’Tigers captain, who currently plies his trade with Sichuan Blue Whales in the Chinese Basketball Association organized league, said irrespective of their losses, the boys are still united and determined to make the country proud.
Abdulrahman, who has been saddled with handling the team in the absence of Coach Alex Nwora, said all odds are stacked against them facing an Australian team who are statistically the best so far in the competition.
The Nigerians had lost their first preliminary qualification game against the Tall Blacks of New Zealand on Friday and have now all but crashed out of the tournament.
D’Tigers, who are in Pool A alongside hosts Australia, New Zealand and Canada, were dominated throughout the proceedings by the Tall Blacks, as the New Zealand basketball team are referred to.
The list which was compiled by the Coach, Alex Nwora-led technical crew, was made public on Wednesday by the NBBF secretary, Chimezie Asiegbu.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Nigeria earlier defeated Uganda on Friday and Rwanda on Saturday to remain unbeaten in the group in the first phase of the African Qualifiers
Talib Zanna was Nigeria’s top performer against the east Africans as he contributed 14 points with six rebounds and four assists to a collectively effective performance by the D’Tigers.
The Nigerian lads defeated their Rwandan counterparts by 108-53 points at Bamako’s Palais des Sports Salamatou Maiga on Saturday
However, they could not sustain the attack against Nigeria as they managed to pick additional 29 points against D’Tigers 36 additional points at the end of second quarter.
Despite admitting the threat posed by the host, the coach is confident that Nigeria can repeat their 2017 FIBA Afrobasket feat where they defeated Mali by 90-67 points at the group stage
The fans who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Lagos said that the team could pick up a ticket to the World Cup from the group that pits Nigeria against, Mali, Uganda and Rwanda.
Aderemi on Monday said the move became necessary to create the right tactical balance for the team ahead of the competition
The team which is dominated by home-based players began training on Jan. 5, ahead of the competition which be held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia between April 4 and April 15, 2018.
The Nigeria Basketball Federation in a statement on Sunday said Nigeria is the lowest-ranked team in their group despite being ranked number one in Africa and 32nd in the world.
The Secretary General of the NBBF, Chimezie Asiegbu, informed that the camping exercise, which will be supervised by the duo of D’Tigers assistant coaches, Abdulrahman Mohammed of Gombe Bulls and Aderemi Adewunmi of Kwara Falcons, will open in Lagos on January 5, 2017.
The statement, signed by the Chairman of the Award Committee, Prince Isidore Oduah, identified oil giants Aiteo and Access Bank as the two corporate organisations to be honoured at the event
This is the second major title won under the new NBBF after the D’Tigress went eight games unbeaten to emerge African champions in Mali
Ugboaja gave the assurance on Saturday in Abuja during a meeting he held with basketball players in the Savannah Conference
Kuta told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Monday, while speaking on preparations for the 2019 World Cup, that the D’Tigers would not be distracted by the crisis.