Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, have officially booked their place in the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket Championship after an impressive showing in the final round of qualifiers in Libya.
Despite a rough start in the earlier rounds, D’Tigers bounced back in grand style, securing victories against Libya, Uganda, and Cape Verde to seal their qualification.
Finishing Strong Against Cape Verde
Already assured of a ticket to the tournament, Nigeria wrapped up their campaign with a commanding 77-62 victory over Cape Verde at the Grand Hall in Tripoli. This win capped off an unbeaten run in the final qualification window, a remarkable turnaround after failing to secure a single victory in the second round.
Head coach Abdulrahman Mohammed took the opportunity to introduce home-based talents Ifeanyi Koko and Ibe Abuchi, rewarding their efforts with valuable playing time.
Agada Shines Again
Tokyo 2020 Olympian Caleb Agada once again led the charge for Nigeria, finishing with a game-high 23 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and five steals. His outstanding performance cemented his role as the team’s key player.
Talib Zanna contributed 13 points, while Ike Nwamu added 11 points, five rebounds, and four assists, showcasing a strong team effort.
For Cape Verde, Ivan Almeida led with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Shane Da Rosa added 10 points. However, Cape Verde struggled in this round, losing all three of their matches.
Nigeria’s Road to Angola 2025
D’Tigers’ qualification journey was far from smooth. A disappointing first round on home soil left them at risk of missing out, but they regained their footing in Libya. They started with a victory over hosts Libya, followed by a decisive 87-67 win over Uganda to avenge their earlier loss.
Capitalizing on Libya’s shock victory over Cape Verde, Nigeria sealed their qualification with a strong finish.
With their place now secured, D’Tigers will turn their focus to the AfroBasket 2025 main tournament, scheduled to take place in Angola from 12-24 August.
