Duro Ikhazuagbe 

Despite D’Tigers opening their 2025 FIBA Men’s Afrobasket Championship campaign with a convincing 77-59 win against Madagascar, President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Engr. Musa Ahmadu Kida, has called on the country’s senior men’s team to stay focused and humble as they take on Tunisia in their second Group B fixture in Luanda, Angola today.

The NBBF chief who is a former national basketball player insisted yesterday that D’Tigers must realise that each game presents a fresh challenge and a renewed opportunity to uphold the values of Nigerian basketball.

“As you prepare to face Tunisia on Friday (today), I urge you to remain focused, stay humble, and play with the same intensity and teamwork that brought us this first win.”

He stressed further: “Every game is a new challenge, and every challenge is an opportunity to show the world what Nigeria stands for—resilience, excellence, and pride.”

D’Tigers began their campaign with a strong second-half performance against Madagascar, overturning a narrow 38–37 halftime lead with defensive discipline and fluid ball movement. Caleb Agada led the charge with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals, while Stan Okoye and Ike Nwamu added 13 and 12 points respectively, helping Nigeria dominate the final quarters to end the fixture 77-59.

However, the Tunisians are no Madagascans. They play the game with zest and the fluidity hardly seen in African teams. Tunisians are two-time AfroBasket champions and last defeated Nigeria in the 2017 final, winning 77–65. Nigeria on the other hand has had the upper hand in recent meetings, including a group-stage win in the 2021 edition. 

According to FIBA’s head-to-head records, Nigeria and Tunisia have met six times in AfroBasket history, with Nigeria winning four of those encounters.

Tunisia’s hopes of a third consecutive title have been dented by the retirement of Makram Romdhane and the absence of veteran Radhouane Slimane. They also suffered a setback in their opening game, falling to Cameroon, which adds pressure ahead of today’s clash.

Statistically, D’Tigers hold the edge heading into the matchup. These Nigerians average 77 points per game compared to Tunisia’s 65, with superior numbers in rebounds (43 to 41), assists (16 to 12), and two-point shooting percentage (61.9% to 41.3%). Both teams are tied at 50% from the free-throw line, while Nigeria holds a slight edge in three-point shooting at 25% versus Tunisia’s 24.1%.

Friday’s encounter at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda is pivotal for both sides as they aim to secure top spots in Group B. The winner will take a significant step toward direct qualification to the quarterfinals, while the loser risks entering the qualification round.

With Kida’s message resonating through the camp and the team buoyed by their opening win, D’Tigers will look to build momentum and deliver another performance that reflects the pride and promise of Nigerian basketball.

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