Paris 2024: D’Tigress make history, reach Olympic quarter-finals

The Nigerian female basketball team, D’Tigress on Sunday made history at Paris 2024 after beating Canada 79-70 to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Olympic Games.

D’Tigress, playing their third group recorded a remarkable victory over a strong Canadian team who are ranked number 5 in the world.

D’Tigress have thus made history by becoming the first African team to reach the Olympic basketball quarter-finals.

The Nigerian women’s team despite being the lowest-ranked team in the Olympic women’s basketball tournament opened their campaign with a stunning 75-62 upset victory over No. 3 Australia last Monday.

D’Tigress not only won but did so in emphatic style, winning three of four quarters, including a sensational 11-0 run that helped them to a 13-point lead in the first quarter.

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In doing so, they became the first African team to defeat the Opals in 12 games at a major tournament, including the World Cup but they lost 75-64 to host, France in their second Group B match.

Following their defeat to the host nation, the Nigeria women’s basketball side knew they had to defeat Canada in their third group game at Paris 2024 on Sunday to qualify for the quarter-finals, something they did in grand style.

The Nigerian ladies gained the upper hand in the contest with a stunning 11-0 run to start the second half. This left Canada reeling from which the North American girls never recovered.

Ezinne Kalu as usual came to the party fully prepared as she was highly influential and controlled play for D’Tigress by pulling the strings in the backcourt.

Kalu who was the playmaker registered 21 points, while Elizabeth Balogun chose a great time to have her best game of her life by rising to the occasion with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

D’Tigress were ruthless in punishing Canada’s mistakes at will with an incredible 27 points from turnovers as Nigeria look like they could give absolutely any team in the tournament a run for their money right now.

The West African girls returned with their rugged defense after a lapse of concentration in their previous defeat against France.