- Nigeria's female basketball team, the Tigress, achieved a historic 79-70 victory over Canada in the final group match
- The win secures Nigeria's first-ever quarter-final spot in women's basketball at the Olympics
- The quarter-final match is set for August 8th, 2024
Building upon their historic defeat of Australia, Nigeria’s female basketball team, D’Tigress, have emerged victorious once again, progressing to the quarter-finals after overcoming Canada.
Ranked 15th in the world, the Nigerian team stunned spectators by overturning a four-point deficit at the end of the third quarter to clinch a 79-70 win against Canada, who are ranked fifth globally. This remarkable achievement marks Nigeria's first-ever qualification for the quarter-finals in Olympic women's basketball.
The match, which held at 12:30 pm on Sunday, August 4, was a thrilling display of skill and determination. The game's progression saw both teams battling fiercely, with Canada initially taking the lead. The first quarter ended with both teams tied at 18 points each. Canada managed to inch ahead in the second quarter, closing it at 23-19, giving them a slight edge.
However, the Nigerian team, led by Ezinne Kalu, who scored an impressive 21 points, displayed an extraordinary comeback in the final quarters. Despite Canada maintaining their lead in the third quarter, which ended 23-5 in their favour, Nigeria rallied in the fourth quarter, scoring 24 points to Canada's 19. The decisive final moments saw Nigeria's defence and offensive strategies shine through, allowing them to secure a 9-point victory margin.
The match statistics highlight Nigeria's prowess and resilience. Nigeria outperformed Canada in field goals, with a 50% success rate compared to Canada's 47%. Their free-throw accuracy was also commendable at 82%, surpassing Canada's 68%.
Moreover, Nigeria's defence was robust, with 16 steals compared to Canada's 6, showcasing their strategic gameplay and quick reflexes.
Ezinne Kalu, Nigeria's top scorer, was supported by strong performances from her teammates. Elizabeth Balogun contributed 14 points, while Promise Amukamara added 12 points and six assists. In the rebounding department, Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah was instrumental, securing seven rebounds and adding eight points to the team's tally.
On the Canadian side, Shaina Pellington led with 17 points, but the team's efforts fell short against Nigeria's relentless attack and defence. While Canada's performance was strong in the first half, it could not withstand the Nigerian surge in the final quarter.
The victory placed Nigeria at the top of Group B, with two wins and one loss, totalling five points and a winning percentage of 66.7%. France followed closely in second place with two wins from two matches, amassing four points and a perfect winning percentage of 100%. Australia and Canada trailed behind, with Canada failing to secure any wins from their three matches.
Paris Olympics 2024: 3 things we learnt from Spain’s narrow win over Nigeria
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Spain narrowly beat Nigeria in the women’s football category at the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024.
Spain scored from a remarkable freekick through Alexia Putellas in the 85th minute, condemning Nigeria’s Super Falcons to two losses in as many games. However, three things stood out in Nigeria’s performance against the reigning world champions.
