Nigeria’s D’Tigress claimed their first win at the Olympics in 20 years following an 75-62 victory over Australia in the basketball event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The victory was the team’s first win in an Olympic match since Athens 2004, when they defeated South Korea in an inconsequential classification game after crashing out.
The Australians were listed as third on the competition’s power ranking, while Nigeria was named 12th.
Ezinne Kalu (19pts, 15 reb, 15ast) became the first Nigerian player to register a 15/5/5 game in the Women’s Olympic Basketball tournament; she made four 3-pointers today, the most for a player with Nigeria in the competition.
Australia spilled the ball a staggering 26 times in the game and that handed Nigeria a huge 26 points from turnovers.
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It was a difference-maker and especially in the first half when they almost handed their opponents a point per minute from that source.
“It feels so good. We stuck together and we came together in adversity. This is what it is all about – you fight,” Nigeria forward Amy Okonkwo said.
“We turned the ball over way too much and we were not ready to step up to the physicality of the game. Turning the ball over though was the crux of the game,” Opals’ forward, Alanna Smith, lamented.
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