- D’Tigers finish group stage unbeaten with victory over Cameroon.
- Coach Muhammed praises team’s resilience in crucial win.
- Okoye admits late-game lapses, urges better composure.
Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, wrapped up their group stage campaign at the 2025 AfroBasket with a hard-fought 99–90 win over Cameroon, maintaining their perfect record as they head into the quarterfinals.
According to Eko Hot Blog the match, played at a high tempo from start to finish, saw Nigeria build a commanding lead during the second and third quarters before Cameroon mounted a late push. Despite a dip in intensity towards the end, the Nigerians held on to secure the win.
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Reacting to the team’s performance, head coach Abdulrahman Muhammed hailed his players for their discipline and execution against a tough opponent.
“This was a statement performance from the team. We knew Cameroon would come hard at us, but our boys stuck to the game plan. That second and third quarter showed exactly what we’re capable of when we’re locked in. It’s a big boost heading into the quarterfinals.”
Standout player Stan Okoye, who played a key role in the victory, echoed the coach’s sentiments while admitting the team must improve their game management during crunch time.
“We were a little disappointed because we were flat in the end. We have to learn to close out games and not let teams back in like that. It felt good to hit shots, but we could’ve defended better and cut down on the turnovers,” Okoye said.
D’Tigers had earlier breezed past Madagascar in their tournament opener with a 77–59 win, followed by a dominant 87–66 victory over Tunisia. The thrilling win over Cameroon sealed a 3–0 record, positioning Nigeria as strong contenders for the title.
With momentum on their side, the Nigerian squad now shifts focus to the quarterfinals, where tougher tests await in the knockout stages of the competition.
NIGERIA’S GROUP STAGE RESULTS:
Nigeria 77–59 Madagascar
Nigeria 87–66 Tunisia
Nigeria 99–90 Cameroon
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