Nigeria make Olympic basketball history after shock win over Canada

Nigeria achieved a significant milestone by defeating the highly regarded Canadian team 79-70 in basketball on Sunday, marking a historic moment at the ongoing Olympic Games in Paris. This victory enabled D'Tigress to become the first African team, regardless of gender, to advance to the quarter-finals of the competition.

The reigning champions of Africa initiated the game with an impressive start, scoring the first six points, with Ezinne Kalu contributing 21 points and Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpannah securing seven rebounds.

Although captain Amy Okonkwo sustained a right shoulder injury early in the second quarter, she made a commendable return in the third quarter, aiding her team in overcoming Victor Lapena’s squad, whose best Olympic performance remains a fourth-place finish in Los Angeles in 1984.

Additionally, coach Rena Wakama etched her name in history as the first coach to guide any African team to an Olympic quarter-final since 1936.

“It feels surreal, and I doubt it will fully sink in for a few more hours,” Wakama expressed to the media, as reported by FIBA.com

“I take immense pride in my players, and I have pushed them to their limits. I have demanded more from them than anyone could possibly envision. This is because I believe in their capabilities, and today we demonstrated our identity.

“It is crucial to focus on every detail, and I require them to restart if something is not executed correctly. I insist on precision for these reasons, so that in critical moments and under pressure, we can perform effectively when faced with challenges.”

The current African champions commenced their campaign at the Paris Games with an impressive victory, defeating the world number three team, Australia, with a score of 75–62 in an exhilarating match held at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille.

Subsequently, they faced a setback against the formidable French team; however, they have successfully secured a position in the quarter-finals.

Despite finishing third in Group B, they advanced as one of the best third-placed teams, aided by Australia's victory over France, which ended 79–72 on Sunday night.

Nigeria is set to face the reigning Olympic champions, the United States, in the quarter-finals, where they aspire to progress to the semi-finals on Wednesday.

Cheryl Reeve’s squad remains undefeated, having triumphed over Japan, Germany, and Belgium in Group C.

In contrast, Nigeria experienced a winless run at the Tokyo Games in 2020, suffering defeats against France, Japan, and the United States.

In 2022, they were unable to participate in the FIBA World Cup despite qualifying, due to internal conflicts between the Nigeria Basketball Federation and the Ministry of Sports, led by Sunday Dare.

Throughout the tournament, D'Tigress have forced a total of 69 turnovers from their opponents and achieved 40 steals, averaging over 13 steals per game.

Quarter-final matchups include:
Nigeria vs United States

France vs Germany

Spain vs Belgium

Serbia vs Australia.