By – Irom Daniel
Nigeria’s men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, have bowed out of the 2025 AfroBasket Championship following a 91-75 defeat to rivals Senegal in their final group-stage match on Tuesday night.
The encounter was expected to be a test of character for Nigeria, but the team struggled to cope with Senegal’s intensity and superior execution. Despite flashes of brilliance from the D’Tigers in the second quarter, where they briefly cut the deficit to single digits, poor shooting and turnovers proved costly.
Senegal’s physicality and precision on the three-point line left Nigeria chasing the game, with the Lions taking full control in the second half. Star guard Brancou Badio led the Senegalese charge, while Nigeria’s offense faltered under pressure.
The result means D’Tigers exit the competition, continuing a worrying trend of underwhelming performances since their historic Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualification run.
Observers have been quick to note that while Nigeria’s women’s team, D’Tigress, have often thrived in spite of poor preparation, the men’s side has repeatedly struggled without proper planning, structure, and investment from the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).
With AfroBasket hopes dashed, questions now hang over the future direction of D’Tigers and whether the NBBF will learn from yet another setback.
