The longest serving member of Nigeria’s squad to this year’s African Men’s Senior Basketball Championship (AfroBasket 2025) in Angola, Stan Okoye is counting the blessings of his outing with D’Tigers during the competition.
Sports247 reports that the men’s AfroBasket 2025 came to a pulsating climax this past weekend at Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda, with Angola picking up their record extending 12th title, after edging aside Mali in a one-sided final.
Before then, Nigeria’s conquerors, Senegal silenced ambitious Cameroon 98-72 for their third straight bronze medal in the tourney, and one of their players, Jean-Jacques Boissy set a new record of 40 points for a single player in one game at the championship.
While Cameroon, which Nigeria defeated in their last group game, eventually won bronze, following defeats to Mali in the semi-final and Senegal in the third place game, Nigeria settled for fifth place after failing to reach the last four.
However, Okoye, who was part of Nigeria’s historic lone title-winning squad of 2015, as well as the earlier team that fell short in 2013, looked back on the adventure he had with D’Tigers at AfroBasket 2025 and concluded that it was a wonderful competition.
The 34-year-old small forward and shooting guard, who now plays for MoraBanc Andorra in the Spanish Basketball Super League, reminisced: “It was a wonderful tournament. Africa needs a tournament like this every year. I love coming back to Africa to play basketball.
“Unfortunately, and sadly enough, we lost out. But, it’s a privilege and honour to represent Nigeria and play in this big tournament.”
Okoye, who was born in North Carolina, USA and was part of Nigeria’s squad to the 2019 FIBA World Cup, admitted that he expected a better surge for D’Tigers, but consoled himself with memories of the fun all the players had together.
“I expected us to get a better result, but I see it all as a blessing, and I am humbled to be here. When you come together with the national team, it’s always a special moment.
“From my experience, every time I get into the national team, it feels like a family atmosphere. You get very close, you build relationships, and you become lifelong friends.
“So, I think it’s a very special experience and opportunity to be together every time we do this,” enthused Okoye, who has also played for clubs in Israel, Australia, Italy, Albania and France.
