The upset over Australia in Paris 2024 was Nigeria’s first Olympic win since Athens 2004.
Nobody gave Nigeria a chance coming into the Olympic Games Paris 2024 women’s basketball.
Well, except for the D'Tigress themselves.
The reigning FIBA Women’s AfroBasket champions scored a sensational 75-62 scalp against world no. 3 Australia to jumpstart their campaign at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium on Monday, July 29 (Philippine time).
Though a clear-cut underdogs, D’Tigress asserted their might early and used a 23-11 second quarter outburst to claim their first Olympic win since Athens 2004.
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Ezinne Kalu showed the way for the world no. 12 squad with 19 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
But it was Promise Amukamara who steadied the ship in the homestretch for NIgeria, especially when the Opals staged an uprising in hopes of turning things around.
Amakumara went 8/8 from the foul line inside the final three minutes of Group B action, including the last four to put the stranglehold on the victory that was two decades in the making.
Amy Okonkwo delivered 13 points and three rebounds, while Murjanatu Musa had an 11-7 outing for the African representatives, who forced Australia to commit a woeful 26 turnovers.
But that’s not the only thing that didn’t work out for the Opals.
The veteran Australian team features the oldest player to play in the Olympics at 43 and 79 days in Lauren Jackson. However, experience wasn't of much help from the line as the Opals shot 8/18 on free throws.
Still, that didn’t take the fight completely out of the Opals, with Sami Whitcomb launching a quick triple with less than a minute remaining in the game to close in, 71-62.
But that turned out to be their last field goal.
Whitcomb finished with 13 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals, but it was Alanna Smith who topscored for Australia with 15 she spiked with seven boards.
Jade Melbourne added 11 points.