August 15, (THEWILL) — Nigeria’s men’s national basketball team, D’Tigers, claimed a decisive victory over defending champions Tunisia in the 2025 AfroBasket tournament.
The match ended with a score of 87-66 in favour of Nigeria, marking their second consecutive win in Group B. Held in Luanda, Angola, on Friday, this result positioned D’Tigers strongly for advancement to the quarter-finals.
Josh Okogie emerged as the standout performer, scoring a career-high 33 points that propelled his team forward.
D’Tigers established control early, outscoring Tunisia 29-16 in the first quarter. By half-time, Nigeria extended their lead to 48-33 through consistent offensive plays.
The third quarter saw them pull further ahead at 68-47, before sealing the win in the final period. Tunisia mounted a brief rally in the closing minutes, but the 21-point margin proved insurmountable.
Key contributions came from Caleb Agada with nine points and Emmanuel Omogbo with eight points, bolstering the team’s balanced attack.
Okogie’s explosive display included six assists alongside his scoring output, disrupting Tunisia’s defence repeatedly.
His efforts were built on a solid foundation from the opening game against Madagascar, where D’Tigers won 77-59.
The quick transitions and accurate shooting that Okogie marshalled were pivotal factors in dismantling the opponents in much the same way the country’s women’s team, D’Tigress, defeated Tunisia recently.
Head coach Mohammed Abdulrahman attributed the success to longstanding player relationships and collective effort.
He explained that familiarity among team members fostered unity, while emphasising adaptability as another key factor in their refreshing displays and the results they have earned so far.
With this triumph, D’Tigers maintain an unbeaten record in the group stage, setting sights on their next fixture.
It The win boosts Nigeria’s prospects in the 2025 AfroBasket, where they aim to reclaim continental dominance last achieved in 2015.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
