Nigeria women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, put on a defensive masterclass in the third quarter to see off Canada 79-70 in their final Group B game and secure a historic quarterfinal berth at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The Rena-Wakama-led side, who went into the halftime break with a four-point deficit, came out in inspired form in the third as they held the Canadians to just five points while they scored 23.
D’Tigress 🇳🇬 onto the Quarter-Finals mission 🐅#Paris2024 x #Basketball pic.twitter.com/BTFv7vKlGK
— FIBA (@FIBA) August 4, 2024
Ezinne Kalu continued her impressive showing in Paris, leading Nigeria with 21 points; Elizabeth Balogun added 14 points; and Promise Amukamara was vital once again with 12 points, six rebounds, and a game-high five steals as the D’Tigress became the first African team—male or female—to progress to the quarterfinals of the Olympics basketball tournament.
Hero of a nation. 🇳🇬#Paris2024 x #Basketball pic.twitter.com/kttQFLPQMQ
— FIBA (@FIBA) August 4, 2024
Canada, ranked fifth in the world, had no answers for Nigeria’s aggressive defensive showing, which held them to 36.8% shooting from the field and below 20% from the 3-point line, a big drop from their shooting percentages in the first half.
Despite the Canadians winning the rebounding game 45-29, the D’Tigress stifled them with both their man-to-man and zone defence, forcing 25 turnovers, recording four blocks, and registering 16 steals.
Nicole Onabosi came off the bench explosively with nine points and six rebounds; Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah, before fouling out, added eight points and seven rebounds, while team captain Amy Okonkwo poured in eight points.
For the Canadians, Shay Colley led with 17 points, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Bridget Carleton added 13 points, Kayla Alexander finished with 12 points, and Laeticia Amihere of Ghanaian and Ivorian descent ended with seven points and eleven rebounds.
First ever African team (Men or Women) to play in #Olympics Quarter-Finals:
It’s Nigeria! 🇳🇬#Paris2024 x #Basketball pic.twitter.com/pQCofpPXWq
— FIBA (@FIBA) August 4, 2024
The victory means the D’Tigress will better their best-ever finish in the Olympics women’s basketball tournament, having previously finished eleventh in 2004.
They also became the first African team to win more than a game in the women’s basketball tournament at the Olympics after all the continent contingents combined for just one win in their previous 37 games.
