D’Tigress of Nigeria have been drawn against the US in the quarter-final of women’s basketball event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The Rena Wakama-led ladies qualified for Nigeria’s first-ever appearance in the last eight of the Olympics basketball tournament after defeating Canada 79-70 in their last group game on Sunday.
The U.S. Women’s Basketball team is on an unprecedented run of dominance. They have won 7 straight Gold medals and have won 54 straight games. Team USA women beat Germany, 85-71, to clinch Group C!
Meanwhile hosts France face Germany, Belgium take on Spain and Serbia meet Australia in the quarter-finals of the women’s basketball tournament at the Paris Games.
Paris 2024: D’Tigress stun Canada to seal historic Olympics quarter-final berth
Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, made history by qualifying for the quarter-final of the basketball event in the ongoing Paris Olympic Games.
The African champions defeated fifth-ranked Canada 79-70 in the last Group B game at the Paris 2024 Olympics in France on Sunday.
Rena Wakama’s side won just one out of four quarters after an 18-18 draw at the end of the first quarter.
Canada won the second quarter 23-19 before D’Tigress’ resurgence in the third quarter with a 23-5 win.
They won the match in spite of a 24-19 loss in the final and fourth quarter.
Ezinne Kalu brought her best to play as she emerged the top performer of the match with 21 points, three rebounds, and two assists, ahead of Canada’s Colley with 17 points, a rebound, and an assist.
D’Tigress moved to the top of Group B with five points ahead of France with four points and an outstanding match against Australia.
The winner of the match between host France and Australia would join Nigeria in the quarter-final.
It has been a tale of highs and lows for D’Tigress, which also defeated FIBA third ranked team, Australia 75-62, before losing 75-54 to host France in their second game.
Wakama, who made history as the first woman coach to win the Afrobasket title, continues to put her name in basketball history with this latest feat.
Olympics: Abbas hails D’Tigress quarter-final qualification
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has commended Nigeria’s female basketball team D’Tigress for qualifying to the quarterfinals of the Women’s Basketball competition at the ongoing 2024 Olympics in France.
In a statement on Sunday, Abbas said the Nigerian female basketball team had been doing the nation proud, urging them to maintain the tempo.
He rejoiced that the D’Tigress made history by being the first African team to qualify for the quarterfinals at the Olympics.
Abbas assured the D’Tigress and the entire Nigerian contingent at the 2024 Paris Olympics of the support of the house.
He urged the team and other members of the Nigerian contingent to remain focused and determined to win laurels for the country.