*ON DUTY: D'Tigers Coach, Ayo Bakare wants Nigeria to shoot down Congo.

Afrobasket 2013 
Bakare Rallies Nigeria's D'Tigers   Against Congo

Nigeria's male basketball team coaching crew, led by Ayo Bakare, last night concentrated on the defence which it has identified as the weak link, as they prepared for Friday's Cote d'Ivoire 2013 Afrobasket second group match against Congo.

Coach Bakare said but for the defence which allowed the Malians to shoot freely from the perimeter, the scoreline could have been different in their opening game. But he still gave kudos to their west African brothers for their powerful display in that match.

Ahead of today's match against Congo, who lost their first match 74-43 to Cameroon, coach Bakare said: "We are not going to take chances at all, hoping  that the players would display all the tactics they have learnt so far".

Bakare plans to joggle the team to ensure that the absence of his key player, Richard Oruche who picked up an injury during the gruelling match against Mali on Wednesday is not felt.

Meanwhile Cameroon will battle Mali in the second group match today as the Malians have vowed to tackle the Central Africans known for their power play grit for grit.

In some of the matches decided last night, Cape Verde, who made their debut in Angola 2007, beat Central African Republic 90-82, while Egypt continued their poor run in the competition losing 67-63 to fellow north Africans, Algeria in a Group A tie.