- Senegal defeated Nigeria 91-75 in Luanda quarterfinals, with Brancou Badio scoring 32 points to lead dominant second-half performance
- Victory marks Senegal’s fifth consecutive win over Nigeria, advancing to semifinals against Mali after overcoming 24-point deficit control
Nigeria’s unbeaten run at the 2025 AfroBasket came to an end yesterday in Luanda with a 91-75 quarterfinal loss to Senegal.
Senegal has now defeated Nigeria for the fifth time in a row, advancing to the AfroBasket semifinals.
Brancou Badio stole the show with 32 points, while Jean Jacques Boissy and Amar Sylla’s back-to-back three-pointers early in the second quarter gave Senegal a lead that Nigeria could not overcome.
The first quarter promised a thriller, with both teams trading baskets in a fast-paced game that saw seven lead changes, with Nigeria leading 24-23.
But Senegal quickly seized control, going on a 13–5 run before halftime. By the third quarter, they extended their advantage to as much as 24 points, leaving Nigeria struggling to keep pace.
Senegal, buoyed by their commanding win, now advance to the semifinals where they will face Mali, whom they previously defeated 80–70 in the group stage.
Prior to this game, Nigeria and Senegal had met nine times in competitive basketball, with Nigeria holding a slim edge of five wins to Senegal’s four.
Their rivalry began at AfroBasket 2001, where Nigeria won 80–65, and continued with key victories in 2009, 2015, and 2017 semi-finals. Senegal’s breakthrough came in 2013, edging Nigeria 64–63 in the quarterfinals.
Both sides also split results during the 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifiers, each securing emphatic wins.
Most recently, Senegal claimed back-to-back victories, a 93–87 triumph at the 2023 pre-Olympic qualifying tournament in Lagos and a dominant 91–75 win at AfroBasket 2025.
The two semifinals will take place on Saturday, and the tournament will conclude on Sunday, August 24.
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