Men’s 2025 AfroBasket: D’Tigers Set to Avenge 2017 Loss in Challenging Test Against Tunisia

The D’Tigers of Nigeria will on Friday, August 15, 2025, face defending champions Tunisia in their second Group B game of the FIBA Men’s AfroBasket Championship at 2.30pm in the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda, Angola.

The Abdulrahman Mohammed-led side enters the game off the back of an impressive 77-59 victory over Madagascar. While Tunisia, led by coach Mehdy Mary, enters the clash, having lost their decade-long unbeaten streak to Cameroon, falling to an 86-65 defeat. Tunisia’s last loss in the tournament occurred in the third-place game of the 2015 edition. (13-0 – the second most win streak in AfroBasket history).

The D’Tigers coach Abdulrahman Mohamed is a former Nigerian international player who featured at four editions of AfroBasket (2001, 2005, 2007 and 2009)

Head to Head

Nigeria and Tunisia have met six times in all competitions, with the D’Tigers winning on four occasions. Tunisia have won the last two meetings: 77-65 on Sunday, August 23, 2015, in the group phase and most recently a 70-59 on Saturday, September 16, 2017, when Tunisia halted Nigeria’s attempt to secure back-to-back Championships.

Reigning champions Tunisia are chasing a historic third consecutive continental crown. While Nigeria are chasing a second, having won in 2015.

In 24 appearances, the North Africans won the tournament three times, in 2011, 2017, and 2021, Silver once in 1965 and Bronze four times (1970, 1974, 2009, 2015). In 19 appearances, the D’Tigers have won gold once in 2015, silver on four occasions (1997, 1999, 2003, 2017) and bronze on three. (1995, 2005, 2011.)

What the statistics say

On the offensive end of the court, Nigeria scored 77 points in their win against Madagascar, while Tunisia were limited to 65 in the loss to Cameroon. Of the 77 points the West Africans scored, 21 were gotten off turnovers, 18 from fast breaks, and 16 from second chance points, all while making 44 in the paint, shooting 61.9% from two pointers, 25% from threes and 50% from free throws.

Of the 65 points scored, the North Africans got three off turnovers, four off fast breaks, 21 from second chance points, while making 30 in the paint, shooting 41.3% from twos, 24.1% from threes and 50% from the free throw line. Nigeria’s bench was responsible for 24 points and Tunisia’s bench produced 20.

Tunisia grabbed 41 rebounds, consisting of 20 on the offensive end and 21 on the defensive end. They made 12 assists, four steals and no blocks. Nigeria grabbed 43 rebounds: 15 were offensive and 20 were defensive. They made 16 assists, 11 steals and three blocks. Nigeria turned the ball over 16 times, while Tunisia had 10 turnovers.

Key players to watch

Nigeria, Caleb Agada(3)

Caleb Agada was the standout player against Madagascar, leading the game in points(22), rebounds(7), steals(3), and efficiency(25), recording the third most points in a game at the tournament so far. He played for Al Ahli Tripoli in the 2025 BAL and won with the side. He was named in the All-BAL Defensive First Team (2025)

Caleb Agada (22), Stan Okoye (13), Ike Nwamu (12) and Kaodirichi Akobundu (10) combined for 57 points in Nigeria’s 77-59 win over Madagascar.

Tunisia, Mohamed Fares (26)

Standing at 6 ft 10, Fares leads Tunisia in efficiency with 25, dropping 12 points, while shooting ⅝ field goals. The centre has been a vital figure in Tunisia’s offence and defence. In the loss to Cameroon, he dropped 12 points and nine rebounds. Worthy of mention is Jawhar Jawadi who leads in points with 16, and assists with 3.0. His teammates, Omar Abada, also registered 11 points.

Tournament format

The winners of each group will advance directly to the quarterfinals. Second and third-placed teams will enter a qualification round for the remaining spots. The last-placed teams in each group will be eliminated, while the losers of the qualification round will also exit the competition and be ranked according to their win–loss record and point differential.

Group pairings

Group A: Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, DR Congo, Rwanda

Group B: Tunisia, Nigeria, Cameroon, Madagascar

Group C: Angola, South Sudan, Guinea, Libya

Group D: Senegal, Egypt, Mali, Uganda