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D’Tigress Beat Canada, Become First African Nation To Reach Olympics Quarter-Final

Nigeria sailed through the group stage with five classification points and sit top of the pack, with France still to play Australia later in the day.

By Tom Jones Usen
Updated August 4, 2024
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D'Tigress
Nigeria’s players and staff, with Nigeria’s US coach Rena Wakama (3rdR) pose as they celebrate after winning the women’s preliminary round group B basketball match between Canada and Nigeria during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, northern France, on August 4, 2024. (Photo by Sameer AL-DOUMY / AFP)

 

The Nigerian female basketball team, D’Tigress, made history at the Paris Olympics 2024 by qualifying for the last 8, claiming a 79-70 victory over Canada.

That feat made them the first ever African team (men or women) to play in the quarter-final of an Olympic game.

Nigeria, three-time Women’s Afrobasket Champions faced a tough test in the North Americans ranked 5 in the world

A win for the D’Tigress was non-negotiable as they hoped to put behind them the loss to France.

The first quarter saw both sides jostling for ascendancy but there was nothing to separate the sides as it ended 18-18

READ ALSO: Impressive D’Tigress Upset Australia, Win First Olympic Game In 20 Years

D'Tigress
Nigeria’s #05 Olaoluwatomi Oluwayemisi Taiwo, Nigeria’s #03 Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah, Nigeria’s #22 Blessing Ejiofor and Nigeria’s #25 Adebola Adeyeye celebrate after Nigeria completed the third quarter ahead of Canada in the women’s preliminary round group B basketball match

 

However, the Canadian team came into the 2nd quarter with some renewed zest and ended up finishing the 2nd quarter 23-19

If there was anybody coach Rena Wakama was looking up to raise the D’Tigress spirit, it was Ezunne Kalu and she didn’t disappoint as she rallied the side in the third quarter to end 23-5 leaders.

Nigeria’s US coach Rena Wakama reacts in the women’s preliminary round group B basketball match between Canada and Nigeria during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Pierre-Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, northern France, on August 4, 2024. (Photo by Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP)

 

Despite a late fightback from Canada in the fourth quarter, the Nigeria side held on to their nine-point lead.

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