Nigeria’s D’Tigers sealed their place in the quarterfinals of the FIBA Men’s AfroBasket 2025 with a thrilling 99–90 victory over Cameroon in their final Group D game at the Pavilhão Multiusos de Kilamba, Luanda, Angola.
The win capped a perfect group stage for Nigeria, who topped the pool with a 3-0 record after earlier dispatching Madagascar and defending champions Tunisia.
Both Nigeria and Cameroon entered Saturday’s high-stakes clash unbeaten, knowing that victory guaranteed an automatic quarterfinal berth. The first quarter was tight, with the D’Tigers edging it 28–25. Nigeria then took control with a devastating second-quarter run (30–16), opening a 60–43 halftime cushion. By the third quarter, the lead ballooned to as much as 34 points, showcasing Nigeria’s dominance at both ends of the floor.
Cameroon mounted a spirited fightback in the final quarter, cutting into the deficit, but Nigeria’s composure ensured a comfortable nine-point win.
It was a complete team performance, with six Nigerian players scoring in double figures. Josh Okogie led with 16 points, Caleb Agada added 15, Stan Okoye came off the bench to deliver 14 points—including a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc—along with seven rebounds. Christian Mekowulu and Ike Nwamu chipped in 12 apiece, while Martins Igbanu added 10.
Nigeria also lit up the perimeter, sinking 15 three-pointers—the highest by any team in the tournament so far. Their accuracy from range proved decisive, leaving Cameroon unable to respond.
Head coach Abdulrahman Mohammed praised his players’ resilience but admitted the fourth-quarter slump needs fixing.
“This was a statement performance,” Mohammed said. “That second and third quarter showed exactly what we’re capable of when we’re locked in. We’ll work on closing out games better, but this is a big boost heading into the quarterfinals.”
Okoye echoed the sentiment, stressing the need for stronger finishes.
“We were a little flat in the end. We can’t let teams back in like that. It was great to knock down shots, but we must tighten our defense and limit turnovers,” he said.
Nigeria’s Group Stage Results:
- Madagascar 59–77 Nigeria
- Nigeria 87–66 Tunisia
- Nigeria 99–90 Cameroon
With momentum firmly on their side, the D’Tigers advance to the last eight, where they will face their quarterfinal opponent on August 19.
