In a commanding performance at the 2025 Men’s AfroBasket Championship in Angola, Nigeria’s D’Tigers secured a decisive 87-66 victory over defending champions Tunisia, marking their second consecutive win in the group stage. The game, held at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda, showcased Nigeria’s dominance, led by an outstanding performance from Houston Rockets star Josh Okogie.
D’Tigers set the tone early, racing to a 10-0 lead and closing the first quarter with a 29-16 advantage. They maintained their momentum in the second quarter, extending the lead to 48-33 by halftime. Despite Tunisia’s efforts to mount a comeback in the third quarter, Nigeria held firm, leading 68-47 heading into the final period. The West Africans sealed the victory in the fourth quarter, finishing with a commanding 21-point margin.
Josh Okogie stole the spotlight, scoring a game-high 33 points in just 24 minutes, the highest point total by a Nigerian player since 2021. Okogie also contributed 6 assists, earning praise for his clutch performance. Caleb Agada added 9 points, while Emmanuel Omogbo chipped in 8 points to support Nigeria’s balanced attack.
This victory follows D’Tigers’ earlier 77-59 win over Madagascar, positioning them at the top of Group B. Nigeria’s strong lineup, including Ike Nwamu, Talib Zanna, and Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, has shown formidable chemistry as they prepare for their final group-stage match against Cameroon on Sunday, which will determine their seeding for the knockout rounds.
The D’Tigers, who won their only AfroBasket title in 2015, are drawing inspiration from the success of Nigeria’s D’Tigress, who recently clinched their fifth consecutive Women’s AfroBasket title. With two wins in two games, Nigeria’s men’s team is poised to make a strong case for the championship as they head into the crucial stages of the tournament.
