- D’Tigers defeated hosts and defending champions Tunisia 87–66.
- Josh Okogie starred with 33 points, shooting 63% from the field and 100% from the line.
- Nigeria dominated from the first quarter, leading 29–16 and maintaining control throughout.
Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, delivered a commanding performance on Saturday night, overwhelming defending champions and hosts Tunisia 87–66 in a crucial group-stage encounter at the 2025 AfroBasket tournament.
According to Eko Hot Blog the match played at the Pavilhão Multusos de Luanda in Angola, saw NBA star Josh Okogie put on a stunning show, dropping 33 points in a near-flawless offensive display. Okogie converted 12 of 19 field goals and was perfect from the free-throw line, making all six of his attempts.
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Despite spirited efforts from Tunisia’s Omar Abada and Yacine Toumi, who both finished with 13 points, the North Africans were unable to match Nigeria’s intensity and now sit at the bottom of their group with two losses from two games.
D’Tigers set the tone early, sprinting to a 10-0 lead within the opening minutes. Three-pointers from Caleb Agada and Ike Nwamu, along with inside finishes from Talib Zanna and Kaodirichi Akonbundu, forced Tunisia into an early timeout barely four minutes into the game.
Okogie dropped 10 points in the first quarter alone as Nigeria ended the period 29–16 ahead.
In the second quarter, the momentum remained with the West Africans. Okogie continued his hot streak, adding another nine points, including a deep three-pointer and precise free-throw shooting. By the halfway mark, Nigeria had opened up a commanding 48–33 lead, despite a late rally from Tunisia that included a circus shot-and-one from Jawadi.
D’Tigers maintained their dominance in the third quarter, extending the lead to 20 points. Okogie again led the charge with a blend of aggressive drives and perimeter shooting, bringing his personal tally to 33 points as the team entered the final quarter with a 68–47 advantage.
Although Tunisia managed to match Nigeria 19–19 in the fourth quarter, the damage had already been done. D’Tigers cruised to a 21-point victory and remain unbeaten as they eye a quarter-final spot.
The team now turns attention to their final group game against Cameroon on Sunday.
Reacting after the win, forward Devine Eke expressed confidence in the team’s title ambitions. “We feel good about the win, but we know the job isn’t finished. Everyone followed the coach’s plan, and we executed well. If we stay focused, we believe we can go all the way,” he said.
