Nigeria’s D’Tigers crashed out of the 2025 FIBA Afrobasket tournament on Wednesday night after a heavy 91–75 defeat to five-time champions, Senegal, in their quarterfinal clash in Luanda, Angola.
The game started brightly for Nigeria, who edged the first quarter 24–23. But the tide quickly turned in the second quarter, where the Lions of Senegal dominated 30–18 to take a commanding 53–42 lead at halftime.
From then on, the Senegalese never looked back. They extended their advantage in the third quarter with a 23–13 run, effectively sealing Nigeria’s fate. Although the D’Tigers fought hard to claim the final quarter 20–15, it was too little, too late, as the final scoreboard read Nigeria 75 – 91 Senegal.
Individual Brilliance Makes the Difference
Senegal’s victory was powered by stellar individual performances. Branon Badio led the way with 32 points, supported by Jean Boissy with 21 and Moustapha Diop with 14.
Nigeria’s response was modest. Ike Nwamu scored 15 points, Stan Okoye added 14, while Caleb Agada and Martins Igbanu contributed 12 points apiece. Despite these efforts, the D’Tigers struggled to keep pace with Senegal’s relentless offense.
Road to the Semifinals
With the win, Senegal booked a semifinal showdown against Mali on August 23. Earlier in the evening, Mali had edged past Ivory Coast 102–96 in a thrilling contest.
The other two quarterfinals are set to feature hosts and 11-time champions Angola against Cape Verde, while Egypt will face Cameroon.
Senegal reached the quarterfinals by defeating Uganda 88–53, losing to Egypt 77–91, and beating Mali 80–70 in the group stage. They later overcame South Sudan 78–65 in the playoff round.
Nigeria, on the other hand, had topped Group B after victories over Madagascar (77–59), defending champions Tunisia (87–66), and Cameroon (99–90).
Historic Rivalry
Nigeria and Senegal share a long basketball rivalry, with Wednesday’s match being their ninth official encounter since 2001. Nigeria had won five of the previous eight meetings, including memorable semifinal victories in 2009, 2015, and 2017. However, Senegal has now won three of the last four contests, including their Olympic Qualifier victory in 2023.
Basketball Pedigree
Senegal, ranked 47th globally, remains one of Africa’s basketball powerhouses. The Lions have appeared at Afrobasket 29 times, winning gold on five occasions, most recently in 1997. They also boast six silver and six bronze medals.
Nigeria, ranked 42nd in the world, has made 19 Afrobasket appearances. The D’Tigers lifted the trophy once, in 2015, while finishing as runners-up four times and clinching bronze on three occasions.
Notably, Nigeria remains the only African nation to have beaten the United States, a feat achieved during the run-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Looking Ahead
While Senegal marches on to face Mali in the semifinals, Nigeria must regroup after another disappointing campaign. With a rich history and undeniable talent pool, basketball fans will be hoping the D’Tigers can rediscover their winning edge in future tournaments.
