Nigeria men’s basketball team, D’Tigers put up a scintillating last-quarter display on Saturday evening to beat Uganda 87-67 at the AfroBasket 2025 qualifying series going on in Tripoli.

After trailing at halftime following 16-12 and 18-16 losses in the first two quarters, the Nigerian side began a fight back in the third quarter which they won 27-25.

At the Grand Hall in Tripoli venue, the comeback achievement was completed in the fourth quarter which Nigeria won massively by 32-8 as the Ugandans crumbled.

Going into the last match on Sunday with Cape Verde, the Saturday defeat of Uganda has renewed the possibility of the hitherto bottom-placed Nigeria to qualify.

At the moment and with the previous matches played before the Tripoli mini-tournament, Nigeria now have seven points, the same as Uganda and Cape Verde.

Cape Verde however still have a game with Libya later in the evening.

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Just like the Super Eagles’ likely qualification for the FIFA World Cup has become a cliffhanger, the Nigeria men’s basketball team, D’Tigers are facing a similar situation in their quest to pick a ticket to the AfroBasket holding in August this year in Angola.

Going into the play-off currently holding in Libya, D’Tigers in Group B were bottom-placed in a quartet that includes Libya, Uganda and Cape Verde.

Nigeria’s win on Friday over Libya leaves D’Tigers on five points, one behind Libya and Uganda, who are tied on points. If they lose to Uganda this Saturday evening, they will be out.

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A newspaper in Libya, the Libya Akhbar has lamented the defeat of the national team by Nigeria in the AfroBasket qualifiers. Reporting the D’Tigers’ 75-70 win on Friday night, Libya Akhbar writes:

 In a sporting evening marked by feelings of frustration and disappointment, the Libyan basketball team lost to its Nigerian counterpart with a score of (75-70) in the African qualifiers for the 2025 African Basketball Cup, scheduled to be held in Angola next August.

A match marked by excitement and dramatic twists until the last moments, but it ended with a heavy Libyan shock.

The Libyan team entered the match with a clear determination to prove itself against a strong opponent like  Nigeria.

From the first moments, the features of a well-thought-out plan based on quick passes and tight defence appeared.

Despite falling behind at times, the Libyan team was able to stay in the atmosphere of the match, which gave the fans hope for a happy surprise

At the start of the fourth period, the Libyan team seemed capable of making a strong comeback.

The small difference in points provided a golden opportunity to equalize, and perhaps even win. The Libyan fans, who followed the match with passion, lived moments of excitement with every successful shot and every heroic defensive attempt.

However, the final minutes witnessed a sudden collapse in concentration, caused by repeated defensive errors and the players’ failure to capitalize on crucial scoring opportunities.

Nigeria, for its part, exploited these gaps and extended its lead, snatching victory at the critical moments.

Despite the strong performance of the Libyan team, the final result was a painful slap in the face.

After the match, the Libyan coach made statements that summed up the team’s feelings: “We took the lead at the crucial moments but lacked focus.” A statement that reflects disappointment but also hints at hope for improvement.

“We were close to a draw, but our defensive mistakes cost us the game,” said one of the team’s players.

The team captain stressed that “the defeat is painful, but it is not the end of the road. We must quickly correct our mistakes to stay in the race to qualify.”

With this loss, Libya’s tally froze at six points, while Nigeria’s tally rose to five points.

This match was a golden opportunity for Libya to top Group Two, tied with Cape Verde, but the defeat dashed these hopes.

In the same group, the qualifiers witnessed Uganda’s victory over Cape Verde (63-60), which further complicated the competition scene.

Libya’s chances now depend on the performance of the other teams and the need to achieve victories in the upcoming matches.

While Libya struggled, other Arab teams performed well. In Group D, Egypt secured a thrilling win over the Central African Republic (75-71), after a game that saw dramatic changes in the score.

Despite falling behind in the early stages, Egypt came back strongly to win the match.

As for the Tunisian team, it won its match against Kenya without much effort, after Kenya was absent from the match, so the victory was considered (20-0), which gave Tunisia the lead in Group Five with a full score.

Libya’s defeat to Nigeria revealed the strengths and weaknesses within the team. The ability to keep up with a strong team like Nigeria until the last moments is evidence of great potential, but the lack of focus at crucial times is a warning bell.

If the Libyan team wants to stay in the competition, it must address these gaps and work on enhancing its fighting spirit and self-confidence. The qualifiers are not over yet, and there is still a chance to return strongly.

Despite the defeat, there is still hope. Basketball is a game of chances and last seconds, and what happened in the Nigeria match should be an incentive for Libya to return stronger and more determined.

The Libyan fans, despite the bitterness, are still waiting for the moment of joy and victory that may come soon if the team learns the lessons of this harsh defeat.

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