Nigeria’s Historic Victory: Women’s Basketball Team Advances to Quarterfinals

Nigeria‘s women’s basketball team is making waves at the Olympics after winning their first match since 2004, beating Australia 75-62 in their opener. On August 4, they followed that up with another impressive victory over Canada, securing a 79-70 win that sent them to the quarterfinals for the very first time.

Unfortunately for Canada, this loss meant they finished at the bottom of Group B and won’t be moving on in the tournament. Ezinne Kalu led Nigeria with 21 points, while Shay Colley was the standout for Canada with 17 points.

The first half of the game was tightly contested, with Canada even taking a four-point lead into halftime. However, things took a turn after the break when Nigeria ramped up the pressure. They exploded in the third quarter, outscoring Canada 23-5 and going on a 15-0 run that gave them an eight-point lead.

By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Nigeria had stretched their lead to a hefty 17 points, making it clear they were in control. The team shot 45% from the field and 38% from three-point range, but their defense was the real game-changer. Nigeria’s team, nicknamed D’Tigress, held Canada to a mere 37% shooting overall, which included an atrocious 5-26 from beyond the arc.

Nigeria capitalized on Canada’s mistakes, forcing 26 turnovers that led to 27 points on the other end, thanks to their relentless defense with 16 steals. Canada’s struggle with free throws also hurt their chances, hitting only 15 of 22 attempts while Nigeria was solid at the line, converting 14 of their 17 free throws.

After landing this crucial win, D’Tigress must now await their next opponent in the quarterfinals. It’s a monumental achievement for Nigeria, marking them as the first African team to reach this stage in Olympic basketball history.

In contrast, Canada had high hopes coming into the tournament as the fifth-ranked team in the world. Veteran player Natalie Achonwa expressed disappointment, saying the team needed to show up better in crucial moments of every game. Head coach Victor Lapena echoed this sentiment, pinpointing their struggles in certain quarters as pivotal in their elimination.

With the tournament ongoing, Nigerian players like Kalu are optimistic about their journey ahead. After dealing with challenges in recent years, including missing the 2022 World Cup, this victory has brought a sense of renewed hope for the team.