By Daily Sports Nigeria on August 16, 2025

D’Tigers demolished defending champions Tunisia 87-66 in a commanding performance at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda on Friday to maintain their perfect start to the 2025 FIBA Men’s AfroBasket championship in Angola.

The 2015 champions dominated the three-time winners from start to finish, securing their second consecutive victory in the tournament after Wednesday’s 77-59 triumph over Madagascar.

Houston Rockets shooting guard Josh Okogie was simply unstoppable, recording a game-high 33 points to inspire Nigeria to a comprehensive 21-point victory that puts them firmly in control of Group B.

The Mohammed Abdulrahman-coached side showed their intent early, racing to a 29-16 lead at the end of the first quarter after opening with a blistering 10-0 run. Okogie was instrumental in the fast start, netting 10 points in the opening period, including a thunderous slam dunk and an and-one conversion.

Tunisia, still reeling from their shock 86-65 defeat to Cameroon in their tournament opener, tried to mount a response in the second quarter but could not stem Nigeria’s momentum. D’Tigers extended their advantage to 48-33 by halftime, with Okogie already accumulating 19 points.

The blueprint remained unchanged in the third quarter as Nigeria continued to dictate proceedings. The gap widened to 21 points at one stage, with the scoreline reading 68-47 entering the final period.

Tunisia attempted a late rally in the fourth quarter, but the deficit proved insurmountable as Nigeria closed out the contest with authority to seal a statement victory.

The triumph maintains Nigeria’s quest for a second continental crown, ending a 10-year trophy drought that dates back to their historic 2015 success under William Voigt’s guidance.

Interestingly, Tunisia’s last defeat at the AfroBasket before this tournament came during the third-place fixture in that very 2015 edition when Nigeria claimed their maiden African title.

The defending champions were without retired veteran Makram Romdhane and the absent Radhouane Slimane, relying heavily on Jawhar Jawadi’s scoring threat. However, their key players failed to replicate the form that saw them lift the title at the previous edition.

Nigeria will conclude their group stage campaign against Cameroon on Sunday, with victory likely to secure top spot in Group B and a favourable path into the quarter-finals.

The Indomitable Lions had earlier stunned Tunisia in their opener, ending the North Africans’ decade-long unbeaten run at the tournament that stretched back to 2015.

With both Nigeria and Cameroon boasting 2-0 records, Sunday’s encounter promises to be a winner-takes-all affair for group supremacy and optimal seeding for the knockout rounds.

D’Tigers have finished as runners-up on three occasions but will be confident of adding to their solitary 2015 triumph following this commanding display against the defending champions.

Source Punch Ng

Posted August 16, 2025

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