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D’Tigers have exited AfroBasket after a 91–75 loss to Senegal.
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Senegal pulled away early, and Nigeria’s comeback fell short.
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The team now focuses on November’s World Cup qualifiers.
Senegal knocked out Nigeria’s senior men’s team, the D’Tigers, 91–75 in the AfroBasket quarter-final at Pavilhão Multiusos de Luanda on Wednesday.
Also Read: Nigeria’s D’Tigers Roar Past Cameroon to Reach AfroBasket Quarters
The defeat ends Nigeria’s run in the tournament.
The sides met for the ninth time; Nigeria had won five of the previous eight.
Nigeria topped Group B with wins over Madagascar, Tunisia and Cameroon, while Senegal reached the last eight after beating South Sudan in a playoff.
Nigeria led 24–23 after the first quarter, but Senegal seized control in the second. Jean-Jacques Boissy sparked a 30–18 quarter that left Senegal 11 points up at halftime.
Senegal extended the lead with a 23–13 third quarter.
Nigeria outscored Senegal 20–15 in the fourth but could not close the gap.
Team stats showed the difference: Nigeria shot 35.6% on 73 attempts with 35 rebounds and 14 assists.
Senegal shot 47.1% on 70 attempts and grabbed 53 rebounds.
Brancou Badio led all scorers with 32 points; Boissy added 19 and Moustapha Pape-Diop scored 14.
For Nigeria, Ike Nwamu led with 15, while Stan Okoye, Caleb Agada and Martins Igbanu added 14, 12 and 12 respectively.
The D’Tigers exit AfroBasket now puts all attention on the FIBA Men’s World Cup qualifying series in November as Nigeria chases a 2027 World Cup spot.
