Nigeria’s D’Tigers Keep Afrobasket Dreams Alive with Victory Over Libya
Nigeria’s basketball team, the D’Tigers, gave themselves fresh hope of qualifying for the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket tournament by defeating Libya 75-70 in their opening game of the second qualifying window.
The match, held in Tripoli, saw the Nigerian team rally after trailing 35-32 at half-time. After a slow start, Nigeria bounced back in the second half, outscoring Libya 20-16 in the third quarter and 23-19 in the fourth.
Key performances came from Caleb Agada, who posted a double-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Kaodirichi Akobundi-Ehiogu added nine points and nine rebounds, while captain Ike Nwamu contributed seven assists, six rebounds, and seven points.
Libya’s Basem Albebas led all scorers with 23 points and eight rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win for his team.
This victory gives the D’Tigers a chance to advance, but they must now win their remaining two games in the window. Despite the win, Nigeria is still bottom of their group with a 1-3 record, needing to beat both Uganda and Cape Verde to stand a chance of qualification for the tournament, which will be hosted in Angola later this year.
