Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, have been eliminated from the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket championship following a 91-75 quarter-final loss to Senegal in Luanda, Angola.
The defeat ended Nigeria’s strong run after topping Group B with wins over Madagascar, Tunisia, and Cameroon. Meeting Senegal for the ninth time, D’Tigers initially edged the first quarter 24-23 but lost momentum in the second as Jean-Jacques Boissy inspired Senegal to a dominant 30-18 run, giving them an 11-point halftime lead.
Senegal tightened their grip in the third quarter, outscoring Nigeria 23-13. Although D’Tigers fought back with a spirited 20-15 display in the final quarter, the damage had already been done.
Statistically, Nigeria managed 35.6% shooting accuracy, 35 rebounds, 14 assists, and eight steals. Co-captain Ike Nwamu led with 15 points, while Stan Okoye, Caleb Agada, and Martins Igbanu contributed double-digit scores. However, Senegal’s Brancou Badio stole the show with 32 points, supported by Boissy (19) and Moustapha Pape-Diop (14).
With this loss, Nigeria exits AfroBasket 2025 at the quarter-final stage. The team will now shift focus to the FIBA Men’s World Cup Qualifiers in November, as they target a return to the global stage in Qatar 2027.
