AfroBasket 2025: D’Tigers Face Senegal In Quarter-Final Showdown

Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, will look to continue their perfect run at the 2025 AfroBasket when they lock horns with Senegal’s Teranga Lions in a quarter-final clash at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda, Angola at 7 p.m. later today.

The West Africans, led by coach Mohammed Abdulrahman, stormed through the group stage with three straight wins to top Group B on maximum points. They opened their campaign with a 77-59 victory over Madagascar, stunned defending champions Tunisia 87-66, and wrapped up with a thrilling 99-90 triumph over Cameroon.

Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated encounter, Abdulrahman explained that his team’s style is built on energy and resilience.

“Our identity is to play good defence and then see if we can run and get a quick and easy basket,” he said.

“We are very much aware that we are not the biggest team around. So we didn’t look at that as a disadvantage. We took it as an advantage. We decided to be very quick on the floor, choke the opponent defensively, try to get some steals, and then push the ball and run.”

Senegal, on the other hand, had a more turbulent journey. They opened with a commanding 88-53 win over Uganda but faltered against Egypt, losing 91-77.

A hard-fought 80-70 victory over Mali was not enough to guarantee automatic progression, forcing them into the qualification playoffs. The Lions secured their last-eight ticket by defeating South Sudan 78-65, inspired by captain Brancou Badio’s 31-point performance.

Both nations share a fierce rivalry on the AfroBasket stage, with Nigeria holding a slight edge, five wins to Senegal’s three in their previous eight meetings. Their last encounter, however, ended in heartbreak for D’Tigers as Senegal triumphed 93-87 at the Pre-Olympic Qualifiers in Lagos.

For Nigeria, Houston Rockets guard Josh Okogie, co-captains Ike Nwamu and Stan Okoye, alongside Caleb Agada, will be crucial. Okoye, the lone survivor from Nigeria’s 2015 AfroBasket-winning squad, brings invaluable experience.

On the other hand, Senegal will bank on the firepower of Badio, playmaker Jean Jacques Boissy, and Ibrahim Faye to trouble the Nigerian defence.