Nigeria’s men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, moved closer to securing a place in the 2025 AfroBasket finals after a dominant 87-67 comeback victory over Uganda in their second Group B qualifier in Tripoli on Saturday.
Following a hard-fought 75-70 win against hosts Libya in their opening game on Friday, D’Tigers overcame a slow start against Uganda, rallying from a halftime deficit to claim their second consecutive victory in the final qualification window.
Uganda started strong, winning the first two quarters 16-14 and 18-14 to take a 34-28 lead at the break. However, Nigeria responded emphatically in the second half, outscoring their opponents 27-25 in the third quarter before completely dominating the fourth quarter 32-8 to seal the win.
Caleb Agada delivered another standout performance, leading the game with 20 points, seven assists, and three steals. Ike Nwamu added 18 points, while Talib Zanna contributed a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
The win marks a strong resurgence for D’Tigers, who had struggled in the first phase of qualifiers in February, losing all three of their matches and putting their AfroBasket hopes in jeopardy.
Now, the Nigerian team faces a decisive clash against group leaders Cape Verde on Sunday. A victory would secure their place in the AfroBasket finals, completing a remarkable turnaround from their earlier struggles.
The AfroBasket 2025 finals will be held in Angola in August.
