D’Tigers’ AfroBasket Hopes Dashed by Heavy Loss to Senegal

Nigeria’s men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, suffered a crushing 91–75 defeat at the hands of Senegal in the quarter-finals of the 2025 AfroBasket Championship, prematurely ending their hope of claiming the continental title.
The match began promisingly for Nigeria, with a narrow lead at the end of the first quarter, 28–27. However, Senegal sharply turned the tide in the second quarter, outscoring the D’Tigers 30–18 to claim a decisive halftime advantage.
In the third quarter, Senegal maintained their dominance (23–13), making it nearly impossible for Nigeria to stage a comeback—despite a resilient effort in the final period, which saw them outpace Senegal 20–15 in the fourth.
Adding to the heartbreak, NBA star Josh Okogie, a standout in earlier rounds, was completely neutralised by Senegal’s defence and managed just four points, a far cry from the 33 points he scored in the group stage.
With this loss, D’Tigers exit the tournament without a shot at another title—recalling their lone AfroBasket crown from 2015—while Senegal advances to face Mali in the semi-final showdown.