Nigeria’s D’Tigers are preparing to go up against Senegal in the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket on Wednesday, August 20, in Angola.
Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, famously known as D’Tigers, is gearing up to continue their pursuit of a second AfroBasket championship title as they prepare to face off against Senegal’s Teranga Lions in a highly anticipated quarter-final match. This intense showdown is scheduled for Wednesday at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda, Angola, according to recent reports.
D’Tigers enter this crucial encounter with an impressive 100% win record at the current tournament, aiming to keep their momentum alive against their Francophone rivals from Senegal. The Nigerian squad, coached by Mohammed Abdulrahman, has been dominant throughout the group stages, finishing at the top of Group B with a perfect six points.
Their campaign began strongly with a 77-59 victory over Madagascar, followed by a commanding 87-66 win against the defending champions and three-time titleholders Tunisia. They wrapped up the round-robin phase with a thrilling 99-90 triumph over Cameroon, maintaining their unbeaten streak.
Coach Abdulrahman shared insights into the team’s strategy ahead of the match, emphasizing their distinctive style. “Our identity is to play strong defense first and foremost. From there, we look to run the floor, get quick, and capitalize on easy scoring opportunities,” he explained. “We recognize we may not have the biggest players on the court, but we turn that into an advantage by being fast and relentless on defense. We aim to disrupt our opponents, create turnovers, and push the pace for quick baskets. That’s how we play.”
On the other side, the Teranga Lions have had a mixed but solid performance so far in the 2025 AfroBasket. They kicked off with an emphatic 88-53 win over Uganda, but stumbled in their second game, falling 91-77 to Egypt. Nonetheless, Senegal bounced back with a crucial 80-70 win against Mali to keep their hopes alive.
Despite securing two wins in the group stage, the Teranga Lions did not earn a direct quarter-final berth and had to battle it out in a playoff against South Sudan. Senegal narrowly won that clash 78-65, booking their spot to face Nigeria.
Historically, these two basketball powerhouses share a competitive rivalry, having clashed eight times before on the AfroBasket stage. Nigeria holds the edge with five wins to Senegal’s three. Their initial meeting dates back to 2001, where Nigeria triumphed 80-65. In subsequent tournaments, Nigeria maintained dominance by winning key matches in 2009, 2015, and 2017, including crucial semi-finals. Senegal, however, broke through with a narrow 64-63 victory during the 2013 quarter-finals.
More recently, their meetings have been back-and-forth. Nigeria claimed a decisive 89-61 win in a 2018 FIBA World Cup qualifier, but Senegal responded with an 84-63 victory in early 2019. Their last encounter was at the FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Lagos, where Senegal edged out Nigeria 93-87, adding another chapter to this intense rivalry.
For Nigeria, much will depend on the leadership and skills of Houston Rockets guard Josh Okogie, alongside team co-captains Ike Nwamu and the veteran Stan Okoye—who is the last remaining player from Nigeria’s triumphant 2015 AfroBasket team. Caleb Agada has also been a standout contributor, while the supporting cast continues to step up when needed, proving Nigeria’s depth and resilience.
Senegal’s biggest threats come in the form of dynamic guard Jean Jacques Boissy and captain Brancou Badio, the latter having scored an impressive 31 points in their recent win over South Sudan. Ibrahim Faye is another key player who poses a significant challenge with his physical presence and skills.
This quarter-final clash promises to be a thrilling battle of speed, strategy, and skill, as both teams fight to advance further in this prestigious tournament.
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