D’Tigers eye 2025 AfroBasket semifinal berth against Senegal
Nigeria’s D’Tigers will today go head-to-head with the Lions of Senegal in the FIBA AfroBasket 2025 quarterfinals, with a coveted semifinal ticket at stake at Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda, Angola. Senegal advanced to the quarterfinals with a 78–65 victory over South Sudan in the playoff round, while Nigeria sealed top spot in Group B after […]
Jide Olusola
Nigeria’s D’Tigers will today go head-to-head with the Lions of Senegal in the FIBA AfroBasket 2025 quarterfinals, with a coveted semifinal ticket at stake at Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda, Angola.
Senegal advanced to the quarterfinals with a 78–65 victory over South Sudan in the playoff round, while Nigeria sealed top spot in Group B after defeating Cameroon 99–90 to finish with a perfect 3–0 record
The Lions bring pedigree to the contest, boasting five AfroBasket titles (1968, 1972, 1978, 1980, 1997), along with six silver medals and five bronze medals in what is now their 30th tournament appearance.
Nigeria, competing in their 20th AfroBasket, have a glittering history of their own. The D’Tigers claimed gold in 2015, and have also collected four silver medals (1997, 1999, 2003, 2017) and three bronze medals (1995, 2005, 2011).
The Nigerians come into the quarterfinal in strong form, after brushing aside Madagascar (77–59), Tunisia (87–66), and Cameroon (99–90). Senegal impressed too with wins over Uganda (88–53) and Mali (84–70), but faltered against Egypt (91–77) before recovering to oust South Sudan.
History favours Nigeria as the last knockout meeting between the two came in the 2015 semifinal, where the D’Tigers edged Senegal 88–79 in overtime before lifting their first-ever AfroBasket trophy.
It will be noted that Nigeria’s women’s team, D’Tigress, having defeated Senegal in the semifinals earlier this year en route to their own title.
Veteran Stan Okoye, the only surviving member of that 2015 championship squad, provides a sentimental link to Nigeria’s golden run and will be counted on for leadership as the D’Tigers chase another title—and an automatic ticket to the FIBA Basketball World Championship.