Nigeria’s bid for a second continental men’s basketball title begins today when the senior men’s national team, D’Tigers, face Madagascar in their opening Group B game of the 2025 FIBA Men’s AfroBasket in Luanda, Angola.
Coach Mohammed Abdulrahman’s side, making their 20th AfroBasket appearance since the tournament’s inception in 1962, will be aiming for a strong start at the Pavilhão Multiusos de Luanda as they seek their first title in 10 years.
This is the first meeting between both nations since Nigeria’s emphatic 112–81 victory in the 2011 preliminary round.
Preparation for the tournament has been far from ideal, with the team only holding a week-long training camp in Abuja before departure.
Leading the charge is Houston Rockets guard Josh Okogie — the sole NBA player on the roster — making his first D’Tigers appearance in three years. Okogie, who starred at the 2019 FIBA World Cup with team-high averages of 12.6 points and 4.4 assists per game, will be joined by experienced hands including Caleb Agada, 2015 champion Stan Okoye, Ike Nwamu, and Talib Zanna.
Emerging forward Devine Eke, standout performer during the qualifiers with 22 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists per game, is set for his first major tournament in Nigerian colours.
Nigeria will face stiff competition in Angola. Defending champions Tunisia, runners-up Ivory Coast, 2007 finalists Cameroon, hosts and 11-time winners Angola, and favourites Senegal — unbeaten in qualifying — all pose serious threats.
The tournament format will see group winners advance directly to the quarterfinals, while second and third-placed teams battle for the remaining last-eight spots. Bottom-placed sides will be eliminated.
Tip-off against Madagascar is scheduled for later today Wednesday August 13th as D’Tigers look to launch their campaign in style and replicate the success of the senior women’s national team, D’Tigress who recently clinched their 5th consecutive FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championship in Côte d’Ivoire reaffirming their status as the queens of African basketball.
