DR Congo shock reigning Champions Nigeria

TUNIS (FIBA AfroBasket 2017) - Democratic Republic of Congo point guard Myck Kabongo is relishing his side's victory over FIBA AfroBasket title holders Nigeria.

In Sunday's Group A final game, Kabongo inspired his team to a historic 83-77 win over Nigeria at the Salle Omnisport de Rades, on the outskirts of Tunis. 

Kabongo became a game-changer for the DR Congo against Nigeria

The 25-year-old guard, who contributed 17 points and a team-high eight assists, shared his feelings with FIBA.basketball afterwards. 

As they tried to put behind their loss to Mali on Day 1, the Congolese came up stronger against Cote d'Ivoire, before dispatching Nigeria.

"We resolved to come together as a team after the painful overtime loss to Mali, and it is a decision that has worked for us."

"Beating the defending champion, Nigeria might be surprising to many but our belief is that every game counts and we are ready for any opposition in the Quarter-Finals," he explained.

And, for Nigeria captain Ike Diogu, who sat out the entire duration of the 2015 winning squad due to injury, losing to the Congolese side serves as a wake-up call to him and the rest of the team.

Diogu says the FIBA Afrobasket has grown and no country is a pushover.

The 6 ft8 (2.03m) power forward says Nigeria is ready for any country in the Final Phase.

"Honestly, I must say that the FIBA AfroBasket has come of age and will continue to get better so all sixteen teams have equal chances of winning it."

"We are not deterred by our loss to RD Congo, but will only use it as a wake-up call that the championship is getting tougher as we await whoever comes our way in the quarter-final," he concluded.

FIBA