Nigeria’s senior men’s national basketball team D’Tigers will look to continue their unbeaten run when they clash with five-time champions Senegal in the AfroBasket 2025 quarterfinals on Wednesday in Luanda, Angola.
The Nigerians topped Group B with an impressive 3–0 record, defeating Madagascar (77–59), Tunisia (87–66) and Cameroon (99–90).
Their balanced attack and offensive depth have been key to their dominance, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle with one of Africa’s basketball powerhouses.
Senegal booked their last-eight ticket after overcoming South Sudan 78–65 in the playoffs, they had earlier finished their group campaign at 2–1, registering wins over Uganda (88–53) and Mali (84–70) but falling to Egypt (91–77).
Led by dynamic guard Brancou Badio, the Lions remain one of the continent’s most physical and experienced sides.
High Stakes and Added Motivation
The matchup carries extra weight beyond a semifinal berth: victory guarantees a slot in the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournaments.
There’s also an emotional subplot, earlier this year, Nigeria’s women’s team, D’Tigress, knocked Senegal out in the semifinals of the Women’s AfroBasket before going on to lift the trophy.
For Senegal, Wednesday’s clash offers a chance at redemption; for Nigeria, it’s another opportunity to stamp dominance over their archrivals.
Experience Meets Youth
Veteran Stan Okoye, the only player left from Nigeria’s historic 2015 AfroBasket title-winning squad, is expected to bring vital leadership to a roster stacked with new talent.
His experience in crunch games could prove decisive against Senegal’s physical play.
A team official revealed that morale in camp is sky-high, boosted by President Bola Tinubu’s athlete reward system, which has served as additional motivation.