Nigeria’s senior men’s national basketball team, D’Tigers, has completed an impressive turnaround in the 2025 Afrobasket Qualifiers, sweeping their final three games after starting with a 0-3 record.
On Sunday, D’Tigers defeated Cape Verde 77-62, with Caleb Agada leading the charge with 23 points. Talib Zanna and Ike Nwamu also delivered strong performances, scoring 13 and 11 points, respectively.
The victory marked a significant reversal of fortunes for D’Tigers, who had lost to Cape Verde in the first window last year. Under the leadership of coach Abdulrahman Mohammed, the team has shown remarkable resilience and determination.
D’Tigers’ sweep of their final three games means they will join the likes of Angola, Egypt, Senegal, Tunisia, Cote D’Ivoire, and others at the 2025 Afrobasket Championship in Angola later this year.
Nigeria’s 2015 Afrobasket title-winning team has shown glimpses of their former glory, with scintillating performances against Libya, Uganda, and Cape Verde.
The team’s home-based players, Ifeanyi Koko Jr and Ibe Agu, also saw action in the game against Cape Verde, gaining valuable experience ahead of the championship.
With their spot in the 2025 Afrobasket Championship secured, D’Tigers will now focus on preparing for the tournament, where they will face stiff competition from some of Africa’s top basketball teams.
