The Nigerian Basketball men’s team, the D’Tigers, finally arrived in Tunisia on Friday to participate in the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket qualifiers after a dramatic buildup.
Initially, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) had announced the withdrawal of D’Tigers from the tournament due to a lack of funds. However, hours later, the NBBF changed course and stated that they were making last-minute efforts to ensure the team could compete.
Despite reports of dissatisfaction with the federation’s treatment, the basketball players still decided to travel to Tunisia for the tournament.
During their first game at the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket qualifying tournament, the D’Tigers showed signs of being unsettled as they were defeated by Libya 89-82 at the Salle Mohamed Mzali court in Monastir, Tunisia.
Despite losing the first quarter 16-25, the D’Tigers managed to make a comeback in the second quarter with a 19-15 win. However, they couldn’t maintain their lead as they lost the third quarter 20-15 under the guidance of Coach Abdulrahman Mohammed.
Nevertheless, the Nigerian team didn’t give up and fought back in the final quarter with a 25-15 win, pushing the game into overtime, where they ultimately lost 12-7.
The Nigerian team, which is no longer eligible to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics and Basketball World Cup, will continue their 2025 FIBA Afrobasket qualifiers against Uganda on February 24. They will then conclude their Group B campaign with a game against Cape Verde on Sunday, February 25.
