In a remarkable display of skill and resilience, the Nigerian women’s basketball team, the D’Tigress, defeated the highly-favored Australian Opals 75-62 in their opening match of the Paris Olympics.
This historic victory marks Nigeria’s first Olympic win in the sport in 20 years.
The match was a tale of two halves, with Australia dominating the early stages and racing to a 13-5 lead. However, the resilient D’Tigress, led by the inspired performance of point guard Ezinne Kalu, fought back to take a surprise 41-28 lead at halftime.
Kalu, who finished the game with 19 points and 5 rebounds, was the driving force behind Nigeria’s impressive comeback. The Opals’ 16 turnovers in the first half proved costly, as the D’Tigress capitalized on the mistakes to take control of the game.
In the second half, the five-time Olympic medalist Australians attempted a fightback, with Alanna Smith leading the charge. The Opals managed to narrow the deficit to just four points heading into the final quarter, but a disastrous spell of play, including missed free throws, allowed the D’Tigress to regain their composure and pull away to a comfortable victory.
The win was a significant milestone for the Nigerian team, who are making their second consecutive appearance at the Summer Games. Head coach Rena Wakama and her players will be buoyed by this historic triumph, which sets them up for a tough group stage match against host nation France on Thursday, followed by a clash against world no. 5 Canada next Monday.
The D’Tigress’s victory over the highly-ranked Australians has sent shockwaves through the women’s basketball world, and the Nigerian team will be looking to build on this momentum as they continue their quest for Olympic glory in Paris.
