Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, defeated the Opals of Australia on Monday in their first match at the 2024 Paris Olympics....For More READ THE FULL STORY▶▶
Led by Rena Wakama, the team delivered an impressive performance, beating the Australians 75-62 at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium.
Despite being underrated before the game, D’Tigress surprised everyone with a strong start to their campaign. They recovered from a slow start to win the first quarter 18-17 and dominated the second quarter 23-11, creating a significant lead over the Australian Opals.
Australia fought back after the break, winning the third quarter 19-10, but Nigeria responded with an emphatic fourth quarter, securing a 24-15 victory and igniting celebrations in their technical area. Ezinne Kalu shone with 19 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Head Coach Rena Wakama started Kalu alongside 2023 AfroBasket MVP and team captain Amy Okonkwo, Elizabeth Balogun, Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah, and Promise Amukamara, rotating the team as the game progressed. Besides Kalu, Amukamara also stood out with 14 points, six assists, and nine rebounds.
This victory marks the team’s first win in an Olympic match since Athens 2004. Previously, the four-time African champions had not won a single game in their two Olympic appearances.
Next, D’Tigress will face hosts France before concluding their group-stage campaign against Canada on August 4.…For More READ THE FULL STORY▶▶
