Kamsi Anayo with agency report
Nigeria’s D’Tigers kicked off their 2025 FIBA Afrobasket campaign on a winning note, edging Madagascar 77–59 in a tense opener at the Pavilhão Multiusos de Luanda, Angola.
The Nigerians started brightly, taking the first quarter 18–14, but Madagascar responded in the second, outscoring D’Tigers 23–20. Despite that, Nigeria held a narrow 38–37 lead at halftime.
Caleb Agada led Nigeria’s first-half scoring with 13 points, while Madagascar’s Sitraka Raharimanantoanina kept his side in the contest with 11 points before the break.
D’Tigers stepped up both offensively and defensively in the third quarter, outscoring their opponents 17–9 to take a nine-point cushion into the final period.
Kiady Razanamahenina was the standout for Madagascar in that stretch, scoring eight of their nine points.
Nigeria opened the fourth quarter with a seven-point unanswered run, extending their lead and putting Madagascar firmly on the back foot before taking the period 22–13 to seal an emphatic 18-point victory.
