After ending their 2025 men’s AfroBasket title chase in the quarterfinal on Wednesday night following 75 to 91 defeat to Senegal, players and officials of D’Tigers are expected to arrive the country on Tuesday.

A few weeks ago, many sports-loving Nigerians lined up in the street of Abuja to welcome Nigeria women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, who conquered Africa, including stopping Senegal in the semi-finals on their way to winning the title. The ladies got $100,000 (naira equivalent), houses and national honour from the Presidency.

However, the situation will not be the same on Tuesday, as the men basketball team, D’Tigers are expected to enter the country quietly. The Guardian, learnt, on Friday, the team will depart from Luanda, Angola, on Monday for South Africa and arrive Nigeria on Tuesday.

In their quarterfinal tie on Wednesday night, Senegal eliminated Nigeria from the championship 91-75, despite D’Tigers winning the first set 24-23.

A poor second quarters ended Nigeria’s run as Senegal came out firing, first by opening with a 6-0 run as Jean-Jacques Boissy and Amar Sylla hit back-to-back three-pointers. From there, they never looked back, outscoring Nigeria 30-18 in the period to take a comfortable 53-42 lead into halftime. A combination of factors affected D’Tigers in the third and final stage of the game, thereby falling 75-91.

The team will regroup for the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers.