How Josh Okogie, son of Reverend Pius & Mrs Anthonia Okogie of Edo State inspired an African team in a historic demolishing of the all-star USA Team.
David Vs Goliath – Nigeria’s D’Tigers upset Team USA after being inspired by Josh Okogie, a 2016 unranked 6’4” shooting guard. How a young Nigerian team humiliated the giant of the sport – USA, surprising all sporting pundits, Basketball experts and made history on America soil. Here is their strategy, success secrets, the genius squad and strengths.
By Professor Chris Imafidon – The book of Guinness World Records needs to be rewritten because of the historic demolition of the star-studded USA team by Nigeria. No American team has ever been defeated by any African country since the country came into existence in 1776. USA for the very first time ever, experienced the physicality, genius and the sheer pace of Josh Okogie and his Nigerian teammates who taught every sporting expert that they were the hidden genius of Africa.
STRATEGY
Last Saturday night in Las Vegas, USA, the biblical story of David versus Goliath was replayed before millions of TV audiences across the world and thousands of basketball enthusiasts who travelled to the west coast with the conviction that an all-star USA team was going to easily beat an unknown African team – called Team Nigeria. Due to this widely held belief, a Nigerian NBA star called Femi “Bam” Adebayo Abebayo even joined the Americans to play AGAINST Nigeria. But in the final analysis Nigeria miraculously prevailed.
In their first preparatory march towards this year’s Tokyo Olympics, Nigerian men’s national basketball team, D’Tigers, demonstrated to all the countries in the Olympic Group B that they were ready to revise any old impressions of their playing ability. They stunned their friends, foes and fans with a 90-87 comprehensive victory over one of the world’s best teams, the all-NBA player team of the United States of America.
STRENGTH
My High School Teacher once told us a story that “By strength alone shall no one prevail” As teenagers we were curious to find out the interpretations of such philosophical saying. But last week in Las Vegas, Nevada, a group of Nigerian men, inspired by Joshua Aloiye Okogie, whose Christian parents are from Edo gave us the true meaning of this saying. They slayed the world’s most powerful giant of basketball in a pre-Olympic exhibition game.
Josh Okogie is the 3rd child of a family of five children born into the devout family of Pastor and educator Pius and his Healthcare professional wife, Mrs Antonia who now live in Snellville, Georgia, USA. Josh Okogie’s most senior brother, Dr Evaristaus is a Dentist in the USA and his immediate senior brother Nathaniel is a Computer Science – whiz kid who graduated from Southern Georgia University and obtained a Master’s degree from Kennesaw State University. Their parents instilled in all their children the values of triumph even in adversity.
Nine years after an 83-point defeat of Nigeria by Team USA at the London 2012 Olympics, this young Nigerian team, under the tutelage of Mike Brown, again pitted their playing talent against a USA team who are aiming for a fifth consecutive gold medal. However on this occasion, Nigeria got a first-ever win over the USA.
THE GENIUS SQUAD
The five Nigerians which began the battle for the D’Tigers included Josh Okogie, Precious Achiuwa, Gabe Vincent, Ike Nwamu, and Chikezie ‘KZ’ Okpala. The USA team started with top NBA players such as Bam Adebayo, Damian Lillard, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Jayson Tatum, coached by Gregg Popovich.
Adebayo secured the first basket of the match and Vincent responded with his first three-pointer of the game. The first half swung in both directions, but the first half ended 43-41 with the USA winning but the highlight of the half was a block on Durant by Achiuwa as the Brooklyn Nets forward powered to the rim. It was D’Tigers shot making from three-point range that helped get the win. The team outscored the Americans 20-18.
Vincent, the Miami Heat guard, made six of eight three-pointers and finished with 21 points while Agada, who plays in the Israeli league, made three three-pointers and finished with 17 points. Vincent, it was who gave D’Tigers the three-point lead with three seconds left on the clock, at which point Coach Brown called for a time-out.
THE SUCCESS SECRETS
Jerry Colangelo, the world’s most experienced managing director of USA basketball for the last 16 years, said at the halftime interview, “Nigeria has come a long way. They can all shoot the ball pretty damn well. They are aggressive and they are playing really well, and that is a tribute to them.”
Nigeria hopes to take this form, formation and forward-thinking mentality to the Olympics in Tokyo where they will play Italy, Germany and Australia in Group B. Ironically, Nigeria’s playing capability is still seriously under-rated by all official bodies and key experts. For example, Nigeria’s national team – The D’Tigers, is the lowest FIBA-ranked team in their group. But they tip off their third consecutive Olympic Games appearance against Australia, FIBA-ranked No.3, at the Saitama Super Arena on July 25.
Hours after the record-breaking defeat of USA, Josh Okogie, a former Georgia Tech player and his colleagues have smashed the Argentina national team to cement their desire to be the underdog, or biblical David that will defeat all the Goliaths of this year’s Olympics.
Professor Chris Imafidon, is chair, ExcellenceinEducation.org.uk, an alliance of inner-city educational charities and institutions that mentors youths, women and professionals in the commonwealth. He is a multi-Guinness World record holder; internationally renowned adviser to monarchs, governments, presidents and corporate leaders; Mentor to multi-millionaire tech entrepreneurs & many world record holders. His research and innovation have been recognised internationally, winning multiple awards. Professor Imafidon is 5X International Bestselling author; Mentor to New York Times Bestellers and a Sunday Times Op-ed author, a Wall Street Journal BestSelling author and a regular contributor to #AfricanVoice;. [Twitter @ChrisImafidon; Instagram @CoImafidon; Facebook/Linkedln/ClubHouse –Professor Chris Imafidon]
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