Nigeria’s quest to claim a second continental men’s title in history will begin on Wednesday (today), when the senior men’s national team, D’Tigers, square up against Madagascar in their opening Group B fixture at the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket tournament in Angola.
The coach Mohammed Abdulrahman led side, who are making a 20th appearance in the history of the FIBA AfroBasket championship since the tournament made its debut in 1962, will take on the less-fancied Malagasy outfit at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda in Angola, looking to begin their campaign on a strong note as they bid to win only a second African title and a first in 10 years.
This clash marks the first meeting between both countries in 14 years, having last faced each other during the preliminary round of the 2011 FIBA Africa Championship for men, where Nigeria eased to a comprehensive 112–81 victory.
Coming into the tournament, the Nigerian team faced the usual problem of poor preparation, having only managed to set up a training camp in the capital city of Abuja only last week. Leading the West African nation’s charge at AfroBasket 2025 is Houston Rockets guard Josh Okogie, who is the sole representative from the elite NBA division on the D’Tigers roster.
The 25-year-old returns to the national team set-up for the first time in three years, after he last represented the country during the fourth window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament. The former Phoenix Suns star led Nigeria in scoring and assists at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China, where he averaged 12.6 points per game and registered 4.4 assists per game.
Other experienced players in the squad include Caleb Agada, who was instrumental for Libyan franchise Al Ahli Tripoli during their maiden Basketball Africa League triumph earlier this year, while veteran Stan Okoye, 34, who is the sole member left from the side that won Nigeria’s first-ever AfroBasket title in 2015, will be one of the co-captains and his deep understanding of the team will provide an added advantage.
Ike Nwamu, another regular mainstay in the national team, will offer composure during crunch moments, while Talib Zanna has previously donned the colours of Nigeria in international competition.
Devine Eke is one to watch out for, as he bids to represent the country at a major event for the first time. Eke featured for Senegalese outfit ASC Dakar during the BAL tournament this year, and he also impressed during the AfroBasket qualifiers, where he averaged 22 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists per game.
Nigeria’s path to glory will not be easy, as the continent boasts some of the finest teams. Cameroon, who were finalists in 2007, have shown they can mix it up with the elite, and the addition of NBA star Yves Missi could cause problems.
Defending champions Tunisia are chasing a historic third consecutive continental crown and a fourth overall, but would have to make do without the duo of Makram Romdhane, who has retired and the absence of veteran Radhouane Slimane.
Ivory Coast, who were runners-up during the last edition, will look to beat all comers to the trophy in Luanda, having had a perfect 6-0 record in qualifying under new head coach Miguel Ángel.
Senegal are the number one favourite for the championship, having also gone through the qualifying series unbeaten and will be banking on the likes of Ousmane Ndiaye, Brancou Badio, Jean Jacques Boissy, and Karim Mane to claim a fifth African title and a first since 1997.
Hosts Angola, who are the record winners with 11 titles, will be looking to win a 12th crown and a first since 2013. They have won the FIBA AfroBasket championship each time they have hosted, and would be aiming for that record to continue.
The format for the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket in Angola will see the winners of each group advance directly to the quarterfinals. Teams who finish in second and third will enter a qualification round for the remaining last-eight slots. The last-placed teams in each group will be eliminated, while the losers of the qualification round will also exit the competition and be ranked according to their win–loss record and point differential.
