Nigeria’s men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, has secured their spot in the upcoming AfroBasket tournament after a solid 77-62 win against Cape Verde on Sunday.
This victory marked their third consecutive win, allowing them to finish the qualifying series as one of the top three teams in Group B, despite starting with three losses.
In their final group match held at the Grand Hall Arena in Tripoli, Libya, D’Tigers dominated the second and fourth quarters, ultimately achieving a 15-point victory over Cape Verde.
Caleb Agada was the standout player, scoring 23 points and providing six assists in a thrilling match. The point guard, who plays in Canada, also recorded a game-high five assists, while Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu led in rebounds with nine.
D’Tigers showcased impressive shooting, completing 48.6% of their field goals and 71.4% of their free throws, maintaining the lead for most of the game.
Nigeria started strong, leading 21-15 with two minutes left in the first quarter, but Cape Verde turned the tables to take the quarter 26-22.
Unfazed, D’Tigers bounced back in the second quarter, limiting their opponents to just seven points and heading into halftime with a 48-33 advantage.
Under the guidance of coach Alan Major, the team conserved their energy in the third quarter and continued to stifle Cape Verde in the fourth, allowing only eight points and sealing the game at 77-62.
With this win, D’Tigers finished the group stage with nine points, tying with Cape Verde at the top, while Uganda and Libya competed for the last qualifying spot in their final match.
This qualification marks Nigeria’s 14th consecutive appearance in the tournament, which they previously won in 2015.
The 2025 AfroBasket, the premier men’s basketball tournament in Africa, is scheduled to take place in Angola from August 12 to 24.
