Nigeria’s D’Tigress have made a remarkable start to their Paris 2024 Olympics campaign, defeating the highly ranked Australian team, the Opals, in their opening game of the women’s basketball tournament.
The Nigerian team won the match 75-62 at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, France, on Monday July 29, 2024.
The victory is being hailed as one of the biggest upsets of the Olympics so far. The D’Tigress dominated the game with a strong finish to the first half, ending with an 11-0 run that gave them a 13-point lead.
This advantage proved crucial in maintaining their lead throughout the match. Amy Okonkwo played a key role, including a crucial three-pointer that helped solidify the team’s position.
Ezinne Kalu, making her return to the team since the Tokyo 2020 Games, was particularly impressive. She scored 19 points and contributed five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Her performance was a significant factor in Nigeria’s success.
The Australian team, known as the Opals, struggled with ball control, committing 26 turnovers that allowed Nigeria to score 26 points from those mistakes.
This loss marks Australia’s second consecutive defeat in their opening game of a Women’s Olympic Basketball tournament, despite their previous six-game winning streak.
This win is Nigeria’s second in Women’s Olympic Basketball, with their first victory coming in 2004 against South Korea. It is also their first win in nine preliminary rounds of the tournament.
Additionally, Nigeria is now the first African country to defeat Australia in 12 games across World Cup and Olympic events.
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