Nigeria’s men’s national basketball team, the D’Tigers, kicked off their AfroBasket 2025 campaign in Angola with a convincing 77-59 victory over Madagascar on Wednesday.
The match, held at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda, saw Nigeria assert its dominance in the second half to secure the 18-point win.
The game started with both teams exchanging blows, but Nigeria edged the first quarter 18-14.
Madagascar fought back in the second quarter, making it a tight contest with Nigeria holding a slim 38-37 lead at halftime.
However, the D’Tigers shifted gears in the third quarter, outscoring their opponent 17-9 to build a significant lead of 55-46.
They maintained this momentum in the final quarter, extending their advantage to seal the decisive win.
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Caleb Agada delivered a stellar all-around performance, leading the team with a game-high 22 points, along with seven rebounds, two assists, and three steals.
He was supported by Stan Okoye with 13 points and Ike Nwamu with 12 points.
The veteran trio’s leadership was instrumental in the team’s strong second-half surge.
Looking ahead, Nigeria, the 2015 AfroBasket champions, will face the defending champions, Tunisia, in their next Group B match on Friday.
They will conclude their group stage fixtures against Cameroon on Sunday.
