The D’Tigress of Nigeria achieved a landmark victory by defeating the Opals of Australia in their opening match at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Led by coach Rena Wakama, the Nigerian women’s basketball team triumphed with a score of 75-62 at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium on Monday. This win marks their first Olympic victory since the 2004 Athens Games, where they defeated South Korea in a classification game.
Despite Australia being ranked third in the competition’s power rankings and Nigeria placed at 12th, the match defied expectations from the outset.
D’Tigress dominated from the start, with standout performances from Murjanatu Musa, Ezinne Kalu, and Amy Okonkwo. The trio excelled in securing loose balls and making crucial shots. Nigeria ended the first quarter with an 18-17 lead, which they extended to 41-28 by halftime.
Kalu impressed with her three-point shooting, while Musa’s defensive plays, including blocks and steals, created turnovers that benefited Nigeria.
Although Australia mounted a comeback in the third quarter and the early part of the fourth, D’Tigress maintained their composure to secure the historic victory.
Nigeria will face France in their second Group B match on Thursday.
