The D’Tigers powered into the quarter-finals of the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket championship in Angola on Sunday following a comfortable 99-90 victory over Cameroon in their last group game.
Both countries came into the clash dubbed ‘the winner takes all’ having won their opening two group games at the tournament, with a win for either side enough to reach the last eight.
Sunday’s contest at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda saw the Cameroonians race to a 5-0 lead in the opening quarter. However, that was as good as it got for the Francophone nation, as the West Africans turned the heat in style to clinch the quarter 28-25.
In the second quarter, the coach Mohammed Abdul Rahman-led side piled on the pressure and went on the offensive, with the scoreline reading 32-16 in favour of Nigeria. Both sides went into the interval with the 2015 champions leading 60-41.
Upon resumption of the third quarter, Nigeria continued their relentless offensive drive, which resulted in a 26-12 scoreline.
The fourth and final quarter saw Nigeria ease off as Cameroon attempted a late rally and tried to make the scoreline respectable.
The 2007 finalists claimed a 37-13 win against Nigeria in the last quarter, although the damage had been done earlier on.
Nigeria made a total of 68 field goal attempts and recorded 57.4 per cent field goals. Total rebounds stood at 37, while the team registered 21 assists, 13 steals and three blocks. The Cameroonians put up 78 field goal attempts, 41 per cent field goals, 31 rebounds, 16 assists, 10 steals and 16 turnovers.
Nigeria’s top performers were Josh Okogie, Caleb Agada, Stan Okoye, Christian Mekowulu, Ike Nwamu and Martins Igbanu. Okogie scored a team-high 16 points, while Agada, Okoye, Mekowulu, Nwamu and Igbanu all put up double-digit point hauls.
Cameroon’s best player on the day was Fabien Ateba, who scored a game-high 19 points. His teammates, Yves Missi, Jeremiah Hill and Bikantchou Gbetkom all recorded 18, 16, and 10 points, respectively.
Following the conclusion of the round-robin phase, Nigeria topped the group with six points, having won all three games played thus far.
Cameroon came second, while the defending champions, Tunisia, settled for third place. Madagascar were eliminated, having finished bottom of the group with zero wins and three defeats.
