By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, won their first game in 20 years at the Olympics by shocking Australia 75-62 on Monday in Paris, France.
The team coached by Rena Wakama took down the Opals, as the Australians are known, in their opening game of the Women’s Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024.
It was a sensational performance by the four-time African basketball champions as they capitalized on Australian turnovers to take victory in front of another huge crowd in Lille.
Nigeria saw a spectacular 11-0 run to finish the first half that gave them a 13-point cushion heading to the locker rooms.
This proved enough for them to get over the line and when the Opals did make it a one-shot game in the last period with four minutes remaining, Amy Okonkwo settled Nigerian nerves with a huge triple to get them rolling again.
Nigeria’s playmaker Ezinne Kalu proved the hero as she fired 19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals, marking a stellar return to the team she hasn’t represented since Tokyo 2020.
Australia, which is the third-best team in the world, were not at their best as they spilt the ball 26 times in the game and that handed Nigeria a huge 26 points from turnovers.
It was a difference-maker especially in the first half when they almost handed Nigeria a point per minute from that source.
Nigeria took the chance and turned things around after starting slowly.
The Nigerian defence was particularly impressive throughout the game and kept Australia disjointed as their guards didn’t cope with the ball pressure, leaving Nigeria to seize the opportunity.
Nigeria will face France on Thursday, August 1 in the next game and play Canada on Sunday, August 4.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Dipo Olowookere