Nigeria’s D’Tigers have been eliminated from the 2025 Men’s AfroBasket Championship after a 91-75 defeat by Senegal in their quarterfinal clash.
Following their defeat, the Nigerian D’Tigers will miss the opportunity to qualify for the FIBA World Cup 2027 through the FIBA AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers.
Despite a strong comeback in the final quarter, the team couldn’t overcome the deficit, and Senegal moved on to the semifinals.
The quarterfinal match between D’Tigers and Senegal was played at the Pavilhão Multiusos Arena in Luanda, Angola.
Senegal dominated the game, outshooting Nigeria 30-18 in the second quarter to establish an 11-point halftime lead (53-42).
Jean-Jacques Boissy led all scorers with 17 points at the break, while Ike Nwamu kept Nigeria in contention with 14 points.
Senegal extended their dominance in the third quarter, limiting Nigeria to just 13 points and stretching the lead to 76-55 heading into the final quarter.
Despite a strong effort in the fourth quarter, D’Tigers couldn’t close the gap, and Senegal won the game 91-75.
The team will regroup in November to kickstart its qualifiers for the Qatar 2027 FIBA World Cup, housed in Group C alongside Rwanda, Guinea, and Tunisia.
The D’Tigers will now shift their focus to the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, hoping to rebound from this disappointing loss.
The defeat offers a valuable learning experience for the team, highlighting key areas for improvement, such as maintaining momentum and reducing costly turnovers.
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