Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, have bowed out of the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket championship after suffering a 91-75 quarter-final defeat to Senegal on Wednesday at the Pavilhão Multiusos de Luanda in Angola.
It was the ninth meeting between the two nations, with Nigeria having won five of the previous eight clashes. The 2015 champions had impressed in the group stage, winning all three round-robin games against Madagascar, Tunisia, and Cameroon to top Group B. Senegal, meanwhile, had to navigate a playoff against South Sudan to secure their last-eight spot.
D’Tigers started brightly, edging the first quarter 24-23. However, Senegal turned the tide in the second quarter, inspired by Jean-Jacques Boissy, who led them to a dominant 30-18 run to establish an 11-point halftime lead.
The third quarter saw the Francophone side increase the pressure, outscoring Nigeria 23-13. Although the Nigerians mounted a spirited fightback in the final quarter, winning 20-15, the damage had already been done.
Statistically, Nigeria attempted 73 field goals, converting just 35.6 percent, with 35 rebounds, 14 assists, eight steals, and three blocks. Senegal, more efficient on the night, made 47.1 percent of their 70 field-goal attempts, grabbed 53 rebounds, and matched Nigeria’s 14 assists.
Co-captain Ike Nwamu led D’Tigers with 15 points, while Stan Okoye, Caleb Agada, and Martins Igbanu contributed 14, 12, and 12 points respectively. For Senegal, Brancou Badio delivered a game-high 32 points, backed by Boissy’s 19 and Moustapha Pape-Diop’s 14.
The defeat means Nigeria exit the tournament at the quarter-final stage. Their focus will now shift to the FIBA Men’s World Cup Qualifiers in November, where they will bid for a place at the 2027 edition in Qatar, having missed out on the 2023 tournament.
