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.
Nigeria’s 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.
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 24.
Despite a late fightback from Canada in the fourth quarter, the Nigeria side held on to their nine-point lead.
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