Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, kicked off their 2025 AfroBasket campaign with an impressive 77–59 victory against Madagascar in their opening Group B match. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that fans at the Pavilhão Multiusos de Luanda, Angola, were treated to an all-around stellar performance.
Nigeria overcame an early scare, leading the first quarter 18–14 before dropping the second 23–20. The game remained tight at 38–37 midway as Madagascar mounted a comeback attempt, but the third quarter proved decisive, with Nigeria pulling ahead to 55–46 and extending their lead to an 18-point margin by the final buzzer.
Basketball Africa League 2025 winner Caleb Agada led the charge for Nigeria, scoring 22 points, grabbing seven rebounds, providing two assists, and making three steals, achieving a game-high efficiency rating of 25. Stan Okoye (13 points), captain Ike Nwamu (12), and Kaodirichi Akobundu (10) also contributed significantly.
For Madagascar, Sitraka Raharimanantoanina’s 20 points kept the team competitive, supported by Kiady Razanamahenina (13) and Mathias M’madi (11), but the third-quarter surge from Nigeria was too strong to overcome. This marked the second AfroBasket meeting between the two nations since 2011, with Agada again topping the scoring charts.
