D’Tigers End AfroBasket Run After Gritty Contest With Senegal
Nigeria’s D’Tigers have been eliminated from the 2025 Men’s AfroBasket Championship following a 91–75 defeat to Senegal in their quarter-final clash at the Pavilhão Multiusos Arena in Luanda.
D’Tigers started the game brightly, edging a tightly contested first quarter 24–23. However, Senegal turned the tide in the second quarter, outshooting Nigeria 30–18 to establish an 11-point halftime lead (53–42).
Jean-Jacques Boissy proved decisive for Senegal, leading all scorers with 17 points at the break, while Ike Nwamu kept Nigeria in contention with 14 points.
The third quarter saw Senegal extend their dominance, limiting Nigeria to just 13 points while scoring 23 of their own, stretching the lead to 76–55 heading into the final quarter. Despite a spirited fightback from the Nigerians in the fourth, the gap proved too wide to close.
The game ended 91–75 in favor of Senegal, who advance to the semi-finals, while Nigeria’s campaign came to an end.
D’Tigers showed promise but will be left to rue missed opportunities and the turnovers that proved costly.
The team will regroup in November to kickstart its qualifiers for the Qatar 2027 FIBA World Cup, housed in Group C alongside Rwanda, Guinea, and Tunisia.
