D'Tigress beat Canada to make history: Nigeria becomes 1st African team to qualify for Olympic Quarter-Finals
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In their final group game, Nigeria's D'Tigress beat Canada to become the 1st African team to qualify for the Quarter-Finals of a basketball Olympics event. (FIBA)

D'Tigress beat Canada to make history: Nigeria becomes 1st African team to qualify for Olympic Quarter-Finals

Tosin Abayomi 14:40 - 04.08.2024

In their final group game, Nigeria's D'Tigress beat Canada to become the 1st African team to qualify for the Quarter-Finals of a basketball Olympics event.

The D'Tigress senior women's basketball team from Nigeria is making history by becoming the first African team to get past the group stage of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Nigeria is turning history on its head at the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament in Paris 2024.

After defeating Canada 79-70 in their final group game, they became the first African team, male or female, to advance to the round of eight.

Nigeria took the lead in the match with an incredible 11-0 run to begin the second half, which left Canada stunned and their opponents never came back.

In their final group game, Nigeria's D'Tigress beat Canada to become the 1st African team to qualify for the Quarter-Finals of a basketball Olympics event. (FIBA)
In their final group game, Nigeria's D'Tigress beat Canada to become the 1st African team to qualify for the Quarter-Finals of a basketball Olympics event. (FIBA)

Ezinne Kalu leads D'Tigress past Canada

Ezinne Kalu wielded immense influence and performed her customary function of manipulating the backcourt.

In their final group game, Nigeria's D'Tigress beat Canada to become the 1st African team to qualify for the Quarter-Finals of a basketball Olympics event. (FIBA)
In their final group game, Nigeria's D'Tigress beat Canada to become the 1st African team to qualify for the Quarter-Finals of a basketball Olympics event. (FIBA)

The playmaker scored 21 points, and Elizabeth Balogun made the most of her moment to record her best-ever performance with 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Nigeria mercilessly punished Canadian mistakes by scoring an astounding 27 points from turnovers.

In their final group game, Nigeria's D'Tigress beat Canada to become the 1st African team to qualify for the Quarter-Finals of a basketball Olympics event. (FIBA)
In their final group game, Nigeria's D'Tigress beat Canada to become the 1st African team to qualify for the Quarter-Finals of a basketball Olympics event. (FIBA)

Nigeria appears capable of defeating any team in the competition at this point as they showed against the Opals of Australia.

After faltering in their previous match against France, their tough defense was back.

They are formidable opponents physically, and whoever they play well against in the Quarterfinals will have to work hard to overcome them.

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