In a majestic display of superiority, Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers on Friday tore apart defending champions, Tunisia, by 87-66 points at the ongoing 2025 FIBA AfroBasket in Luanda, the Angolan capital.
The commanding performance saw Nigeria side securing an unassailable 21-point victory in this highly anticipated clash inside the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda in Angola.
The game began on a blistering note as Houston Rockets guard Josh Okogie inspired Nigeria to an early 10-0 lead. Quickly asserting control in the game, D’Tigers showcased superior offensive firepower and relentless defensive pressure on the Tunisians.
By the end of the first quarter, the scoreboard read 29-16 in favour of Nigeria whose only triumph in the continental tournament came in 2015. The momentum continued in the second quarter as Nigeria resumed their cruise control by stretching the lead to 48-33 at halftime.
With the North Africans struggling to recover, D’Tigers maintained their intensity throughout the third quarter, outscoring their opponents by 68-47 points.
Known for their resilience and tactical prowess, the Tunisians struggled to find answers to D’Tigers’ energetic performance and the final buzzer confirmed Nigeria’s superiority, sealing a statement win that puts them top of Group B.
Okogie was the undisputed star, with a career-high 33 points, the highest ever recorded by any Nigerian player since 2021, while Ike Nwamu, Caleb Agada, Talib Zanna, and Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu added depth to the squad’s firepower.
This result was Nigeria’s second consecutive win in the tournament, after defeating Madagascar 77-59 in their opening match on Wednesday.
Next up, D’Tigers will seek to extend their brilliant form in the championship as they round-up the group stage fixtures against Cameroon on Sunday to determine the knockout stage seeding.
Nigeria’s sole AfroBasket title came in 2015, having finished as runners-up on three occasions. The team will want to emulate the D’Tigress, who recently secured a record fifth consecutive women’s continental title.
