Nigeria’s D’Tigers will take on Senegal in a crucial AfroBasket 2025 quarterfinal clash on Wednesday in Luanda, Angola, after an impressive 3–0 run through the group stage.
The 2015 champions topped Group B with wins over Madagascar (77–59), Tunisia (87–66), and Cameroon (99–90), showcasing their offensive depth and strong momentum heading into the knockout rounds.
Senegal, a five-time AfroBasket winner, earned their place in the last eight with a 78–65 playoff victory over South Sudan. They had earlier beaten Uganda (88–53) and Mali (84–70) in the group stage before falling to Egypt (91–77).
With physicality and tournament pedigree on their side, and standout guard Brancou Badio leading the charge, the Senegalese remain one of the toughest opponents Nigeria could face.
A place in the semifinals, along with a spot in the 2026 FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournaments, will be at stake.
Nigeria will also draw motivation from their women’s team, D’Tigress, who defeated Senegal in the semifinals of the Women’s AfroBasket earlier this year before going on to lift the title.
One player to watch is veteran Stan Okoye, the only member of Nigeria’s 2015 AfroBasket-winning side still in the squad. His experience is expected to be vital for a relatively new-look team.
According to team officials, the squad remains highly motivated, buoyed by President Bola Tinubu’s recently introduced reward system for athletes who excel on the international stage.