Nigeria’s D’Tigress on Monday afternoon shocked the rest of the world with a thoroughly deserved 75-62 win over highly rated Australia in their Basketball opener of the Paris 2024 Olympics, www.aclsports.com reports.
Going into the game, Rena Wakama’s Tigresses were ranked underdogs in the group that also has hosts France and Canada but an Ezinne Kalu-inspired performance gradually dissipated that despite the Australians going 13-5 up in the first quarter.
Kalu who claimed a game high 19 points recorded eleven of those in the first quarter as Nigeria edged it by a point. With further key contributions from Amy Okonkwo, Elizabeth Balogun and Murjanatu Musa, Nigeria took a 13-point lead into the half time break.
The Aussies clawed their way back in the third quarter, led by significant three-pointers by Alanna Smith who topscored for the Opals with 15 points and Sami Whitcomb as they cut the D’Tigress’ gap to two points in the final quarter.
That was when the Promise Amukamara show began. She first set up Amy Okonkwo for a crucial three-pointer before the France based player converted all ten free throws she had in the quarter to put the daylight between the African champions and their opponents.
Kalu ended with 19 points and 5 rebounds while Amukamara had 14 points and 9 assists with team captain Amy Okonkwo returning 13 points. The inspiring Musa ended with 11 points and 7 rebounds.
Monday’s win was the first for Nigeria’s D’Tigress at the Olympics in twenty years after the classification win over South Korea in Athens 2004. The win also marks the first victory for Team Nigeria in any sport at the Paris 2024 Games.
The D’Tigress will face hosts France, the bronze medallists at the last Olympics in Tokyo on Thursday. A win for Nigeria will take the World Number 12 to the quarter finals for the first time ever.
