Nigeria’s D’Tigress kicked off their Paris 2024 Olympics campaign with a stunning victory over Australia, the world’s third-ranked team. The Nigerian women’s basketball team delivered an impressive performance, clinching a 75-62 win in Lille.
This victory marks Nigeria’s first Olympic basketball win in two decades. The D’Tigress dominated the game, outscoring the Opals with a decisive 13-point lead. Their remarkable 11-0 run before halftime set the tone, with Amy Okonkwo contributing a key three-pointer for coach Rena Wakama’s squad.
Ezinne Kalu made a notable return, scoring 19 points along with five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. This performance was her first Olympic appearance since the Tokyo 2020 Games.
ROAAAAAR!!!! pic.twitter.com/wl36xA5cTg
— DTigress (@DtigressNG) July 29, 2024
Australia struggled with turnovers, giving up the ball 26 times and allowing Nigeria to capitalize with 26 points from those errors. This defeat marks Australia’s second consecutive loss in their opening game of a Women’s Olympic Basketball event, following a streak of six wins.
Nigeria’s win is also significant as it makes them the first African team to defeat Australia in 12 games across the World Cup and Olympics.
This thrilling result underlines Nigeria’s growing prominence in international basketball and sets a high bar for their future games in Paris 2024.
Source: ChannelsTv
