Nigeria’s national men’s basketball team, the D’Tigers, saw their hopes of an AfroBasket title come to an end following a 91-75 defeat to Senegal in the quarterfinals of the 2025 tournament. The loss ended what had been a promising campaign, leaving the team and fans reflecting on what might have been.
The D’Tigers had arrived in Luanda, Angola, on the back of a strong group stage performance, topping Group B with wins over Madagascar, Tunisia, and Cameroon. Their quarterfinal matchup against Senegal began competitively, with Nigeria narrowly winning the first quarter 24-23. However, Senegal’s dominance in the following quarters shifted the momentum decisively, enabling them to avenge their 2015 AfroBasket final defeat to Nigeria and advance to the semifinals.
Speaking after the game, Nigeria head coach Mohamed Abdulrahman acknowledged the team’s performance while praising Senegal’s effort. “We fell short on a night where we wanted to bring our best. Senegal deserved the win, and I can’t take that away from them,” he said. “I’m proud of how we played. We now have an identity, and this is just part of our growth as a team.”
Team captain Ike Nwamu also shared his thoughts, reflecting on how the team lost composure after a strong start. “It hurts. We had high hopes with a really good, fun group, and we all enjoy playing together. But that’s the nature of the game—one team wins, another loses. We weren’t at our best early, and Senegal came out with more energy. They are a very strong team with top-level players, and tonight was their night.”
Looking ahead, the D’Tigers will focus on the upcoming classification games as they aim to secure a solid finish in the FIBA rankings. While the quarterfinal exit was a setback, the team can build on the progress and identity they have established throughout the tournament.
