- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, on Wednesday began their 2025 AfroBasket campaign on a brighter note as they cruised past Madagascar with 77–59 victory in their opening Group B match.
Picking up from where their female counterpart, D’Tigress left, the D’Tigers thrilled fans at the Pavilhão Multiusos de Luanda, Angola, with an all-round excellent display.
The team overcame an early upset to secure the win against Southern African side Madagascar.
While they led the first quarter 18–14, Madagascar pulled a shocker in the second quarter which they won by 23–20 points.
The match was tight at 38–37 midway through when Madagascar mounted a comeback attempt.
The third quarter proved decisive, as Nigeria stretched to a 55–46 lead. By the buzzer, they had extended it to an 18-point victory, 77–59.
Basketball Africa League 2025 winner with Al Ahli Tripoli, Caleb Agada, scored the most points for the 2015 AfroBasket champions.
Agada amassed 22 points, seven rebounds, two assists and three steals, recording a game-high efficiency rating of 25.
This was the second AfroBasket meeting between Nigeria and Madagascar since 2011. Then, too, D’Tigers triumphed, with Agada again scoring a game-high 22 points.
Stan Okoye (13 points), captain Ike Nwamu (12) and Kaodirichi Akobundu (10) also played key roles in Nigeria’s success.
Sitraka Raharimanantoanina’s 20 points were crucial for Madagascar but could not prevent Nigeria’s dominant third-quarter performance.
Other Malagasy players in double figures were Kiady Razanamahenina (13 points) and Mathias M’madi (11 points).