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Tag: Tunisia

  • D’Tigers crush Tunisia 87-66 to boost Afrobasket hopes

    D’Tigers crush Tunisia 87-66 to boost Afrobasket hopes

    Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, on Friday defeated Tunisia 87-66 to record their second win at the ongoing 2025 FIBA Afrobasket in Angola.

    D’Tigers dominated throughout the match and were clearly the better side on the court.

    Defending champions Tunisia, who lost their first game to Cameroon, hoped to recover but failed against a more coordinated Nigerian team.

    Nigeria took the first quarter 29-16 and maintained their lead in the second, winning 19-17 despite Tunisia’s attempted comeback.

    The third and fourth quarters were explosive, with Nigeria holding firm and never allowing their advantage to slip.

    D’Tigers played with high intensity, using sound tactics, solid teamwork and smart ball movement, fully aware of Tunisia’s capabilities.

    Tunisia could not match Nigeria’s energy, with their attacks repeatedly thwarted by a strong D’Tigers defence.

    Nigeria took the final quarters 20-14 and 19-19, boosting their chances of reaching the quarter-finals ahead of their last group game against Cameroon.

    Josh Okogie led D’Tigers with 33 points, six defensive rebounds and a 32 efficiency rating.

    Okogie was the spearhead of Nigeria’s offence, setting the tone for the team’s emphatic victory.

    His leadership will be vital as Nigeria aim for a deeper tournament run, with his current consistency proving crucial.

    Tunisia’s Omar Abada and Yacine Toumi scored 13 points each, but their efforts could not prevent a second group defeat.

    Elsewhere, hosts Angola defeated Guinea 84-68, Egypt overpowered favourites Senegal 91-77, and South Sudan demolished Libya 115-52.

  • D’Tigers hammer defending champions, Tunisia 87-66 to record 2nd Afrobasket win

    D’Tigers hammer defending champions, Tunisia 87-66 to record 2nd Afrobasket win

    Nigeria’s D’Tigers recorded a decisive win over Tunisia in the 2025 men’s Afrobasket, beating the North Africans 87-66 in a one-sided encounter on Friday.

    D’Tigers began the game on the front foot and raced to a 10-0 lead with Houston Rockets star Josh Okogie dictating the pace in the one-sided match at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda in the Angolan capital.

    At the end of the 1st quarter, the D’Tiger had 29 points against their opponents’ 16. When the first half ended, Nigeria outscored the Tunisians, having 48 points while the latter were on 33.

    It stretched to 68- 47 in Nigeria’s favour after the third quarter. By the time the fourth quarter was over, the 2015 Afrobasket champions had done the job, defeating the Eagles of Carthage 87-66.

    Okogie made history in the match, scoring the highest point total for a Nigerian since 2021 —33.

    Nigeria fielded a strong lineup, which included Ike Nwamu, Caleb Agada, Ike Nwamu, Talib Zanna, Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, and Okogie against Tunisia.

    The victory came on the back of an impressive 77-59 victory over Madagascar earlier in the week and puts them on top of the Group B lot.

    D’Tigers’ only FIBA Afrobasket title was ten years ago. But they have ended as runners-up on three occasions.

    They will be inspired by the D’Tigress, who, a few weeks back, clinched a historic fifth Women’s Afrobasket crown on the bounce.

  • CAA U-18/U-20: Tunisian delegation in road accident enroute Games village

    CAA U-18/U-20: Tunisian delegation in road accident enroute Games village

    The Tunisian contingent to the 3rd Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), were on Saturday, involved in a road accident while traveling back to the Games Village from the competition venue.

    This is  contained in a statement by Kola Daniel, Special Adviser to the  Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola  Olopade on Sunday  in Abeokuta.

    He,  however, said it would have resulted in a tragedy if not for the timely intervention of  Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, who was traveling the route at the same time.

    Abiodun reportedly rendered first response assistance at the scene, transporting the injured athletes to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Abeokuta,  where they received first aid attention and later moved to another facility for adequate treatment.

    Daniel said that the affected vehicle had deviated from the safety protocol in place which was routinely accompanied by security and support.

    He said  that the governor and Olopade  arrived at the hospital later to oversee the care of the affected athletes, adding that Olopade  remained in close contact with the leadership of the Tunisian delegation.

    The commission also commended the swift response of the state government, medical personnel and security agencies who responded to the situation.

    “The NSC wishes the injured athletes quick and full recovery and extends its heartfelt sympathy to their teammates, families, and the Tunisian delegation.

    “The safety and well-being of all athletes and participants remain our topmost priority,” he said. (

  • Tunisia: Court upholds jail term for presidential candidate

    Tunisia: Court upholds jail term for presidential candidate

    A Tunisian court has confirmed an imprisonment sentence earlier handed down to a presidential contender ahead of elections scheduled for Sunday in the North African country.

    The appeals court in the city of Jendouba in western Tunisia had upheld the 20-month jail sentence against detained presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel, his lawyer said.

    The ruling can be appealed and will not affect Zammel’s candidacy, his lawyer said.

    Last month, a lower court issued the sentence against Zammel, a businessman and the head of the liberal Azimoun party, on charges of falsifying electoral endorsements.

    The Oct. 6 polls are pitting incumbent President Kais Saied against Zammel and Zouhair Maghzaoui of the leftist nationalist People’s Movement.

    Serious challengers to Saied, who is seeking a second term in office, have been excluded, according to observers.

    The election commission has recently refused to reinstate three more presidential hopefuls who won court appeals to run for president.

    Critics have accused the panel of lacking in independence and clearing the way for Saied to win, accusations that the panel has denied.

    The vote will take place “against a backdrop of increased repression of dissent, muzzling of the media, and continued attacks on judicial independence,” Human Rights Watch said last month.

    Since 2021, Saied has consolidated his power by dissolving the parliament and calling early elections, steps that the opposition called a “coup.”

  • CAF Confederation Cup: Rivers United pip Club Africain of Tunisia 1-0 in Uyo

    CAF Confederation Cup: Rivers United pip Club Africain of Tunisia 1-0 in Uyo

    Nigeria’s only representative in this year’s CAF tournaments, Rivers United secured a hard-earned 1-0 victory against Club Africain of Tunisia in their  Confederation Cup matchday three clash on Sunday  in Uyo.

    Captain Nyima Nwagua scored the Rivers United only goal inside 40th minute at the Godswill Akpabio stadium.

    It was the Stanley Eguma side’s second win in the group stage of the competition.

    The Port Harcourt club are now the third Nigerian club after BCC Lions (1990) and Enyimba (2008) to defeat Club Africain on the continent.

    Rivers United remain in second position behind Club Africain in Group C.

    Both teams will clash again on matchday four on Wednesday , December 20.

    In the other group game, Dreams FC of Ghana claimed a 3-2 away win at Academica do Lobito.

  • Tunisia arrests 1,200 illegal immigrants in 24 hours

    Tunisia arrests 1,200 illegal immigrants in 24 hours

    Tunisian security units have arrested 1,200 people of different nationalities who planned to cross the Mediterranean to Europe illegally, local media reported.

    “The arrest operations were carried out by National Guard units during a security campaign in the southeastern province of Sfax to stop the illegal immigration waves,” Houcemeddine Jbabli, spokesman for the Tunisian National Guard said.

    He added that the security units also arrested a number of organisers of the trips across the sea and seized wooden boats.

    The security campaign, carried out on Saturday in the island of Kerkennah in Sfax province, witnessed an aerial operation with the participation of many special security units and rapid intervention teams.

    The campaign was carried out against the backdrop of the coast of the province becoming a major starting point for illegal immigrants as they tried to sneak into the Italian island of Lampedusa.
    The island of Lampedusa, the usual first stop by illegal immigrants in their sea voyage to Italy, is only about 80 kilo metres from the Tunisian coasts.

  • Table Tennis star, Aruna Quadri retains African men’s title in Tunisia

    Table Tennis star, Aruna Quadri retains African men’s title in Tunisia

    Nigeria’s Table Tennis star, Aruna Quadri has retained his African men’s  title, after emerging victorious at the 2023 ITTF Championships in Tunisia.

    Quadri defeated Egypt’s Ahmed Saleh in the final of the men’s singles on Monday to retain his title.

    The number one seed thrashed Saleh 4-0 to hold on to the title he won in Algeria last year.

    An elated Quadri reflected on his victory against the Egyptian.

    “I am happy with the title because I have a good and bad memory of Tunis, having got injured here during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualification. Winning another title here is good to erase the bad memory,”he declared.

    Hana Goda dethroned her compatriot Dina Meshraf to win the women’s title.

    The teenage sensation won the thrilling final 4-1.

  • Deadly Mediterranean wildfires claim over 40 lives

    Deadly Mediterranean wildfires claim over 40 lives

    Over 40 lives have been lost in a tragic wildfire outbreak that has swept through Algeria, Italy, and Greece, leaving villages and holiday resorts at risk, prompting the evacuation of thousands.

    On Tuesday, a firefighting plane fighting the flames in Greece crashed, resulting in the deaths of two pilots.

    The aircraft, which had been tirelessly dropping water to quell the inferno, tragically came down on a hillside near the town of Karystos on the Greek island of Evia, east of Athens.

    The brave captain, aged 34, and the co-pilot, aged 27, both lost their lives in the accident, the country’s air force confirmed.

    Greece is bracing for further evacuation flights as fires continue to ravage the islands of Corfu and Evia, with the Civil Protection Ministry warning of “extreme danger” of fire in six of the country’s 13 regions on Wednesday.

    Over 20,000 people have been evacuated from their homes and resorts in the southern region of the holiday hotspot, Rhodes.

    To facilitate the evacuations, close to 3,000 holidaymakers have already been flown back to their home countries, according to figures from the Transport Ministry.

    The wildfires have dealt a significant blow to Greece’s tourism industry, a crucial pillar of the nation’s economy, and in response to the crisis, tour operators have taken the difficult decision to cancel upcoming trips to the affected areas.

    Tourism contributes 18 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and supports one in five jobs.

    For islands like Rhodes, the reliance on tourism is even more substantial, making the impact of these wildfires all the more devastating.

    Algeria has suffered the highest death toll so far, with 34 victims, including 10 soldiers who found themselves surrounded by flames during an evacuation in the coastal province of Bejaia, east of Algiers.

    While Algerian authorities have managed to extinguish 80 per cent of the fire since Sunday, an extensive firefighting operation is ongoing, engaging around 8,000 personnel, hundreds of fire trucks, and several aircraft.

    The relentless heatwave shows no signs of abating, with temperatures expected to surge beyond 44°C (111°F) in certain parts of Greece.

    Sicily and Puglia in Italy have also been affected, forcing thousands to flee in the face of the advancing flames.

    The combination of high winds and parched vegetation has made firefighting efforts arduous, leaving firefighters struggling to contain the inferno and create effective firebreaks.

    Fires have also raged in neighbouring Tunisia, where 300 people had to be evacuated from the coastal village of Melloula.

  • EU, Tunisia sign deal to fight illegal migration

    EU, Tunisia sign deal to fight illegal migration

    European Union wishes to negotiate with Egypt and Morocco partnerships similar to the one it has just concluded with Tunisia, relating in particular to the fight against irregular immigration, a European source said on Monday.

    The EU and Tunisia signed a memorandum of understanding in Tunis on Sunday for a “comprehensive strategic partnership”, which also concerns the country’s economic development and renewable energies.

    On the migratory aspect, it provides for European aid of 105 million euros intended to prevent the departure of migrant boats to the EU from the Tunisian coasts and to fight against smugglers. But also to facilitate the return to this country of Tunisians who are in an irregular situation in the EU, as well as the return from Tunisia to their countries of origin of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she wanted the partnership to be a model for future agreements with countries in the region.

    Egypt and Morocco are two countries that could be affected, said a senior European official speaking on condition of anonymity, stressing the benefits of this type of partnership for both sides of the Mediterranean.

    But this agreement with Tunis has also drawn criticism because of the treatment of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa by the authorities of this Maghreb country.

    Hundreds of migrants were arrested in Tunisia and then “deported”, according to NGOs, to inhospitable areas on the borders with Algeria and Libya. Women and children are abandoned in the middle of the desert without water, food or shelter, according to testimonies collected by telephone by the media and videos sent to NGOs in Tunisia.

    It is “not about signing a check” to the Tunisian authorities, stressed the European official, indicating that the agreement provided for a series of contracts with different actors, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, and the International Organisation for Migration, IOM.

    The memorandum of understanding concluded on Sunday between the EU and Tunisia, in the presence of Ursula von der Leyen, President Kais Saied, but also Italian heads of government Giorgia Meloni and Dutch Mark Rutte, will have to be approved by all. of EU member states.

    While European countries like Italy wanted to be able to send migrants back to Tunisia who had simply transited through that country, Tunis has made it clear that it does not want “to be a country of settlement for irregular migrants”. The agreement therefore only covers the return of Tunisian nationals who are in an irregular situation in the EU.

    The protocol signed plans to devote 15 million euros – out of the 105 million – to the “voluntary” return of some 6,000 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa from Tunisia to their countries of origin.

    In addition, the EU intends to deliver to the Tunisian coastal authorities eight boats for search and rescue operations and drones.

  • 350 principals sacked, 17,000 teachers salary suspended over protest

    350 principals sacked, 17,000 teachers salary suspended over protest

    Authorities on Monday reported that Tunisia suspended salary payments for 17,000 teachers and sacked 350 school principals over protests demanding an increase in pay.

    The salary suspensions could affect about 30 per cent of the country’s primary school teachers.

    It will also escalate the conflict with the powerful UGTT union at a time when the North African country’s citizens grapple with dire economic crisis.

    As part of their protest, teachers in the country have refused to hand in school grades.

    Education Minister Mahamed Ali Bougdiri said “the students’ failure to obtain school grades is a disaster and a crime against children.”

    Ikbel Azzabi, a union official, told Reuters that Tunisia’s decision aims at “starving teachers”, and the next school season would be difficult due to expected protests.

    Hundreds of school principals have already started submitting their resignations.

    The education ministry maintains that the country’s public finances do not allow the teachers’ requests to be approved.

    Most people fear that the conflict between the ministry and union will deepen the ongoing crisis in Tunisia and threaten the new school season, amidst high inflation, poor public services, and loss of food commodities.