Nigeria secured a strong finish to their Group B campaign in the 2025 AfroBasket on Sunday at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Kilamba after defeating Cameroon 99-90.
The victory allowed them to complete the group stage with a perfect 3-0 record, which, importantly, grants them direct entry into the tournament’s quarterfinals.
In a remarkable performance, Nigeria had six players score in double figures, with Josh Okogie leading the team with 16 points.
Caleb Agada contributed 15 points, Stan Okoye added 14, while Christian Mekowulu and Ike Nwamu each scored 12, and Martins Igbannu chipped in with 10.
Cameroon’s top scorers were Fabien Ateba with 19 points and Yves Missi with 18. Jeremiah Hill left the game due to a knee injury after scoring 16 points, and Samir Gbetkom added 13.
The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with Nigeria leading 28-25. Mekowulu was the standout scorer for the D’Tigers with six points from three-point range, while Cameroon’s Hill scored seven.
The small crowd sensed they were in for an exciting, high-scoring game from the start.
In the second quarter, Nigeria increased its intensity, outscoring Cameroon 30-16 by halftime.
Agada had a stellar second quarter, scoring 10 points, including an early three-pointer, while Mekowulu added six more points, making him 4-for-5 from beyond the arc.
Josh Okogie and Stan Okoye were key to Nigeria’s success, combining for 30 points. Okoye, who came off the bench, excelled, shooting 4-for-4 from three-point range and grabbing seven rebounds.
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Cameroon struggled to counter Nigeria’s three-point shooting, ultimately leading to their nine-point defeat. Nigeria’s 15 three-pointers were the highest by any team in the tournament thus far.
Despite trailing by as many as 34 points, Cameroon showed resilience in the fourth quarter, but their comeback effort came too late.
Nigeria’s defense proved crucial, effectively neutralizing Cameroon’s attempts to keep pace.
This was the fourth encounter between the two teams in the AfroBasket tournament.
The D’Tigers had previously eliminated the Indomitable Lions in the quarterfinals of the 2017 tournament, and the stakes were similarly high in this final group match.
A win for either team would secure the top spot in Group B and a direct place in the quarterfinals.
In the end, Nigeria topped the group with a flawless 3-0 record, while Cameroon finished second with a 2-1 record.
“We were a bit disappointed because we felt we were a little flat at the end. We’ve learned how to close out games, and we let teams come back like that.
“It was great to make shots, but we could have improved on defense and managed the ball better,” said Okoye.
