In Luanda on Wednesday night, Senegal’s men’s basketball team turned the tables on Nigeria, avenging the loss their women suffered to the D’Tigresses just weeks ago. This time, it was the D’Tigers who felt the sting, as the Senegalese roared into the semifinals of the Afrobasket Championship with a 91–75 triumph.
The game began on a knife-edge. Both sides traded baskets with intensity, and Nigeria managed to sneak the first quarter by the slimmest of margins, 24–23. It looked like a battle of equals. But then came the storm.
Senegal unleashed their firepower in the second quarter, overwhelming the D’Tigers 30–18 and racing into a commanding 53–42 lead at halftime. The Nigerians never quite recovered. The third quarter was even more punishing, with Senegal stretching the gap by another 10 points.
Though the D’Tigers fought to salvage pride in the final stretch — winning the last quarter 20–15 — the deficit was far too deep. When the buzzer sounded, the scoreboard told the story of Senegal’s dominance: 91–75. The win cut Nigeria’s head-to-head advantage to a narrow 5–4.
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It was a night where Nigeria’s talisman, NBA star Josh Okogie, was subdued, managing just four points — a far cry from the 33 he dropped earlier in the group stage. In contrast, Senegal’s Brancou Badio lit up the court, pouring in 32 points with clinical precision, earning the spotlight as the game’s undisputed leader.
For the D’Tigers, it was heartbreak. For Senegal, it was sweet redemption — payback served not only for themselves but also for their women’s team, who watched their brothers restore national pride on the continental stage.
