Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2025 AfroBasket title came to a decisive end on Wednesday in Luanda, Angola, as they fell to a dominant Senegalese team with a final score of 91-75.
Having entered the quarterfinals as one of only two undefeated teams in the tournament, Nigeria saw their championship aspirations halted by a powerful second-half performance from their opponents.
The match began as a tightly contested affair, with the two teams trading blows throughout an exhilarating first quarter. Nigeria managed to cling to a narrow 24-23 lead after a period that featured seven separate lead changes.
The momentum shifted decisively early in the second quarter when Jean Jacques Boissy connected on a three-pointer to give Senegal a lead they would not relinquish. Another three-pointer from Amar Sylla extended the advantage to 29-24, sparking a sustained period of Senegalese control.
Senegal maintained their intensity with a 13-5 run, forcing D’Tiger to call a timeout in an attempt to regroup. However, there was little Nigeria could do to counter Senegal’s relentless dominance, particularly in the second half.
Brancou Badio delivered an exceptional individual performance, leading all scorers with a remarkable 32 points. Senegal’s lead ballooned to as many as 24 points in the third quarter, effectively putting the game out of reach.
With this victory, Senegal advances to the semifinals, where they are set to face Mali, a team they previously defeated 80-70 during the group stage. The result marks a disappointing conclusion for D’Tiger, which was unable to find an answer for Senegal’s comprehensive performance across all major categories of the game after halftime.
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cc: FIBA
