Nigeria’s D’Tigers, fresh off an unbeaten 3–0 run in the group stage, are preparing for a crucial AfroBasket 2025 quarterfinal showdown against Senegal on Wednesday in Luanda, Angola.
The team topped Group B with convincing wins over Madagascar (77–59), Tunisia (87–66), and Cameroon (99–90), and will be looking to capitalize on their strong offense and momentum heading into the knockout stage.
Senegal, a five-time AfroBasket champion, advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating South Sudan 78–65 in the playoffs. They had earlier finished the group stage with a 2–1 record, securing victories against Uganda (88–53) and Mali (84–70), but losing to Egypt (91–77).
With a rich tournament history and physical prowess led by standout Brancou Badio, Senegal poses a formidable challenge as both teams vie for a semifinal berth and a spot in the 2026 FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournaments.
There’s also added motivation: earlier this year, Nigeria’s women’s team, D’Tigress, beat Senegal in the semifinals of the Women’s AfroBasket and later won the championship.
One key player to watch is Stan Okoye, the only remaining player from Nigeria’s 2015 championship squad. His experience could play a big role in guiding the team.
A team official shared that the players are highly motivated, especially with the support of President Bola Tinubu’s reward system for successful athletes.
