Nigeria’s D’Tigress triumphed over Australia’s Opals, securing their first Olympic win in 20 years. The landmark victory occurred at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where Nigeria defeated Australia 75-62 in a thrilling women’s basketball game at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium.
Point guard Ezinne Kalu delivered a standout performance, driving the Rena Wakama-coached team to withstand a late rally from the Australians. Kalu’s 19 points and five rebounds were pivotal, ensuring a memorable win against the world’s third-best team.
The game started with Australia showing urgency and dominance, quickly taking a 13-5 lead through the efforts of Jade Melbourne and Ezi Magbegor. However, D’Tigress, participating in their second consecutive Summer Games, swiftly responded. Kalu’s remarkable play led Nigeria to edge ahead 18-17 after the first quarter, thanks to her 11 points, which included three three-pointers.
In the second quarter, Kalu continued to control the game, with Amy Okonkwo and Elizabeth Balogun contributing significantly. By halftime, Nigeria had built a surprising 41-28 lead, capitalizing on 16 turnovers by the Australians compared to their eight.
Australia, five-time Olympic medallists, needed a strong second-half response. Despite resolute defending from Nigeria, the Opals managed to chip away at the lead, trailing by just four points heading into the final quarter. Alanna Smith led Australia’s comeback attempt, but it was not enough.
In a tense final quarter, with just over six minutes remaining, the Opals closed the gap to two points. However, a critical sequence of play shifted the momentum. Smith missed two crucial free throws, while Promise Amukamara converted hers for Nigeria. Amukamara then set up Okonkwo for a three-pointer, extending Nigeria’s lead to seven points. This cushion allowed D’Tigress to control the game and secure a comfortable victory.
The win marks Nigeria’s first Olympic basketball victory since Athens 2004 and sets the stage for their upcoming matches. D’Tigress will face host France in their next Group B match on Thursday before taking on world number five, Canada, next Monday.
This victory is the biggest upset of the Paris 2024 Olympics so far and a significant milestone for Nigerian basketball. Congratulations to D’Tigress for an outstanding #Paris2024 debut!