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Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, continued their impressive run at the 2025 AfroBasket, defeating arch-rivals Senegal 77-65 in a highly anticipated quarter-final clash at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda, Angola. The victory secures Nigeria a place in the tournament’s semi-finals and maintains their perfect record.
D’Tigers, led by coach Mohammed Abdulrahman, came into the game with strong momentum, having won all three of their group stage matches. The team’s strategy of playing with high energy and strong defense, a style Abdulrahman had emphasized, proved effective against a physical Senegalese side.
Senegal’s journey to the quarter-final was less smooth, and despite a strong performance from their captain Brancou Badio in their playoff win over South Sudan, they were unable to overcome Nigeria’s dominance.
The intense rivalry between the two nations was on full display, with both teams fighting for every point. However, D’Tigers, with key contributions from Houston Rockets guard Josh Okogie, co-captains Ike Nwamu and Stan Okoye, and Caleb Agada, managed to control the game. Stan Okoye, the lone survivor from Nigeria’s 2015 AfroBasket-winning squad, brought invaluable experience to the court, guiding his team through the crucial moments.
The victory avenges Nigeria’s heartbreaking 93-87 loss to Senegal in their last encounter at the Pre-Olympic Qualifiers. D’Tigers will now advance to the semi-finals, where they will face a new challenger in their quest for the 2025 AfroBasket title.
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