D’Tigers star gives reason for poor 2025 Afrobasket qualifiers outing

Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, known as D’Tigers, is making headlines on social media once again, but unfortunately not for the reasons they had hoped.

With three consecutive defeats in the 2025 Afrobasket qualifiers, D’Tigers face a very challenging road ahead.

The team kicked off their qualification campaign with an 82-89 loss to Libya in their opening game. This setback was followed by a disappointing 72-62 defeat against Uganda in their second group match.

To compound their woes, D’Tigers suffered another blow with a 78-62 loss to Cape Verde in their third qualifier during the February window.

Cape Verde’s victory over D’Tigers not only denied them a spot at the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup but also puts their qualification for the Afrobasket in jeopardy.

After the conclusion of the first round of qualifiers, D’Tigers shed light on the challenges they faced. The team had initially withdrawn from the qualification series due to financial constraints but later opted back in following intervention by the Federal Government.

Reflecting on their performance, Bright Osagie Akhuetie remarked, “Coming out here even without practicing, we have to structure and prepare as a team. Imagine if we stayed together for a month, we would’ve done better.”

With their backs against the wall, D’Tigers now face the daunting task of winning all three qualification games scheduled for November if they are to secure a spot in the 2025 Afrobasket. The road ahead is tough, but the team remains determined to bounce back and redeem themselves on the court.