Nigeria’s D’Tigers were in inspired form on Wednesday as they recorded a dominant 77-59 win over Madagascar in their opening game at the 2025 FIBA Afrobasket in Angola, Afrosport reports.
The 2015 winners, playing at the Helmarc Arena in Luanda, edged the first quarter 18-14 to set the tone for the rest of the Group B matchup. Madagascar, however, mounted a comeback in the second, winning the round 23-20 to trail by just one point heading into the halftime break.
Mohammed Abdulrahman’s men took over the game in the third quarter, putting a bit of distance between themselves and their opponent, after a 17-9. They never looked like relinquishing the lead, rather, it widened to 18 points after a 22-13 score in the final quarter.
NIGERIA WINS!!
1-0. pic.twitter.com/KkD8BiljWj
— D’Tigers | Nigeria Basketball (@NigeriaBasket) August 13, 2025
The D’Tigers were led by 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) champion, Caleb Agada, who finished with game highs of 22 points and seven rebounds. The 30-year-old went 10-for-18 from the field and shot 40% from the three-point line.
Co-captains Stan Okoye (13 points) and Ike Nwamu (12 points) combined for 25 points, while big man Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu tallied 10 points and six rebounds.
For Madagascar, 24-year-old Sitraka Raharimanantoanina led the way with 20 points, while the due of Mathias M’Madi and Kiady Razanamahenina combined for the 24 points for the Malagasy.
Meanwhile, in the other group game, Cameroon blew past three-time winners and defending champions Tunisia 86-65. Williams Narace led the East Africans with 20 points and six rebounds.
Cameroon now sit atop Group B owing to a superior points difference, while Nigeria are behind in second place. The D’Tigers are back in action against Tunisia on Friday, while Cameroon will take on Madagascar on the same day.
