D’Tigers secure 2025 AfroBasket qualification.
Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, have secured their spot at the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket championship, dispelling any fears of missing out after being officially declared ‘qualified’ ahead of their final qualifying match against Cape Verde on Sunday, according to The PUNCH.
Despite being set to face Group B leaders Cape Verde in their last game of the second qualifying phase, D’Tigers’ qualification was assured by FIBA, which confirmed that all Group B teams—including Cape Verde, Libya, Nigeria, and Uganda—would advance, with the fourth-placed team qualifying as the best-ranked among all groups.
“The team that will finish fourth in this group will qualify as the best fourth-placed team of the AfroBasket qualifiers,” FIBA stated in their match-day preview.
Unfazed by this confirmation, D’Tigers chose to finish strong, defeating Cape Verde 77-62 to complete their second qualifying phase with a perfect record. Their journey to redemption began in Libya, following a disappointing first phase last year where they lost all three games. They bounced back with a hard-fought 75-70 victory over hosts Libya on Friday, followed by an 87-67 comeback win against Uganda on Saturday.
Before FIBA’s announcement, D’Tigers were already one win away from securing their spot in the AfroBasket finals, but their strong performance ensured a confident qualification.
Nigeria has participated in the last 10 editions of the tournament and will aim for a second continental title when the competition takes place in Angola from August 12 to 24. Their sole AfroBasket triumph came in 2015, alongside four silver and three bronze medals.
