Duro IkhazuagbeReporting Live from Paris
Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, DTigress, has achieved a historic milestone at the Paris 2024 Olympics by becoming the first African team (male or female) to reach the quarterfinals. Their remarkable journey began with a surprising victory over Canada, with a final score of 79-70 in favor of Nigeria. The team exhibited exceptional performance throughout the match, showing great resilience and determination.
In the first quarter, Nigeria and Canada were evenly matched, both scoring 18 points. However, Canada took a slight lead in the second quarter, managing to outscore Nigeria by only four points. In the third quarter, DTigress made a comeback with a commanding 18-point lead, demonstrating their offensive prowess. Although Nigeria lost the fourth quarter by a small margin of five points, their overall performance was enough to secure their place in the quarterfinals.
This victory marks another milestone for the Nigerian team, as they have now won two games in the Olympic tournament for the first time in history. The manner in which they defeated Canada was impressively decisive, leaving the Canadian team struggling to regain their footing.
One player who played a crucial role in Nigeria’s triumph was Ezinne Kalu, who excelled as a playmaker, contributing 21 points to the team’s score. Elizabeth Balogun also had a standout performance, scoring 14 points, along with 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
DTigress capitalized on Canadian errors, capitalizing on turnovers and scoring an incredible 27 points from these mistakes. Their relentless defense was back to its formidable form, preventing their opponents from finding an offensive rhythm.
At this point in the tournament, Nigeria appears to be a force to be reckoned with. Their physicality and strong defense make them a challenging opponent for any team. The Quarter-Finals will undoubtedly test the mettle of their rivals, as Nigeria has proven their ability to compete at a high level.
For Canada, the absence of offensive firepower was a concern throughout the tournament. This loss, in particular, will be a bitter pill to swallow, as it signifies their early departure from the competition.