Nigeria’s D’Tigers wrapped up their Group D campaign of the 2025 AfroBasket on a brilliant note, defeating Cameroon 99-90 at the Pavilhão Multiusos de Kilamba on Sunday. The victory not only sealed a flawless 3-0 record for the team but also secured them a direct ticket to the quarterfinals of the tournament.
It was a balanced offensive display from the Nigerians, with six players finishing in double figures. Josh Okogie led the charge with 16 points, while Caleb Agada contributed 15. Stan Okoye added 14 points in a vital bench role, Christian Mekowulu and Ike Nwamu chipped in 12 apiece, and Martins Igbannu completed the list with 10 points. On the other side, Cameroon’s Fabien Ateba scored 19, Yves Missi added 18, and Jeremiah Hill who later exited with a knee injury, recorded 16 points.
The opening quarter set the tone for a thrilling contest as both sides went back and forth, with Nigeria narrowly edging it 28-25. Mekowulu stood out early with six points, all from behind the arc, while Cameroon relied on Hill’s seven points. By the second quarter, however, the D’Tigers shifted gears, outscoring Cameroon 30-16. Agada was particularly dominant in this spell, notching 10 points, including a three-pointer, while Mekowulu continued his hot shooting from deep.
Josh Okogie and Stan Okoye were the standout performers. Okogie’s relentless play gave Nigeria stability, while Okoye, coming off the bench, was perfect from three-point range, going 4-for-4 and also pulling down seven rebounds. Together, the duo combined for 30 points that proved decisive in keeping Nigeria ahead. Their heroics were matched by the team’s impressive shooting display, which saw them drain 15 three-pointers more than any other team in the competition so far.
Despite trailing by as many as 34 points, Cameroon fought back with spirit in the fourth quarter, reducing the gap significantly. However, Nigeria’s defense ultimately carried the day, closing out the contest and denying their opponents a chance to fully recover. The win also continued a familiar story between the two nations, as Nigeria had previously eliminated Cameroon in the 2017 quarterfinals of the AfroBasket.
PLAYERS COMMENT
Reflecting on the victory, Stan Okoye admitted that the team still had room for improvement. “We were a little disappointed because we were a little flat in the end. We have to learn to close out games and not let teams come back like that. It was really great to knock down shots, but we could have done better on defense and taken better care of turnovers,” he said. Still, with three straight wins and a ticket to the quarterfinals, Nigeria’s D’Tigers have sent a strong message to the rest of the competition.
