Nigeria's senior female basketball team, on Sunday, beat their Canadian opponents by 79-70 to reach their first-ever quarterfinals of the Olympic games.
The Nigerian side made history in their last Group B match of the Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium, France.
The game was at a stalemate with both sides sharing 18 points each at the end of the first quarter.
Going into the second quarter, the D’Tigress trailed behind their Canadian opponents by 41-37.
However, Ezinne Kalu led the way for Nigeria with twenty-one points. At the same time, Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah dominated the boards with seven rebound and Promise Amukamara orchestrated the offense with six assists to hand the 2023 AfroBasket Women champion the win.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has warmly congratulated Nigeria’s D’Tigress on qualifying for the quarter-final of women’s basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
D’Tigress will be the first African team in basketball to play in the quarter-finals at the Olympics.
According to the statement by his spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the President commended the team for their uncommon demonstration of resilience, teamwork, and diligence.
He also commended the coach and managers of the team for their dutifulness and dedication. The President enjoined the brave Tigress not to rest on their oars until the finals
President Tinubu assured the team and the Nigerian contingent at the 2024 Olympics of his support as they flew the nation’s flag at the global sports event.
The United States' quest for a fifth straight Olympic gold medal remains on track after securing a place in the quarter-finals with a win over South Sudan.
Angela Carini Abandons Olympic Fight After 46 seconds
Recall that In the men's category Africa’s Sudan was no match for the 16-time champions and were defeated 103-86 at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium.
USA led from the first quarter and never looked back, with Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo registering a team-high 18 points and seven rebounds.
For South Sudan, Nuni Omot led the way with a game-high 24 points.
But although entertaining, this match was not as dramatic as when the two nations met earlier this month for an Olympic warm-up game.
Team USA features 12 NBA All-Stars, four NBA MVPs and six NBA champions, who combined have 11 Olympic appearances and won 10 gold medals.
Group C rounded up their qualifiers on Saturday, and South Sudan who needed a result against Serbia would not progress.
