Paris 2024 olympics: Nigeria secures first win with victory over Australia in basketball opener

The Nigeria Senior National Women’s Basketball team, known as D’Tigress, kicked off the basketball tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics with a 75-62 win over Australia. Ezinne Kalu led the team with 19 points, guiding them to a victory against the higher-rated Australian squad.

Basketball enthusiasts in Lagos praised the team for their performance, noting that this win earned them crucial points in their opening group game.

Sesan Olabode, a basketball fan, stated that the team deserved the win due to their thorough preparation and solid play. He encouraged them to maintain their high level of performance and confidence as they face future challenges, remarking, “It is a fantastic win; the team showed great confidence in defeating Australia and should continue to rise to every challenge ahead.”

Grassroots basketball coach Austin Okafor praised the team for affirming their status as Africa’s powerhouse in women’s basketball. He emphasized that they deserve recognition and should persist in their hard work for the remaining matches.

Another grassroots coach, Femi Adetoye, highlighted the significance of the win against a formidable Australian team, stating that it demonstrates the team’s quality and depth. He commented, “It is a great result; Australia is a strong competitor in world basketball, so D’Tigress should continue to work hard in their upcoming games.”

Fan Emeka Nwani also expressed enthusiasm, noting that the team displayed excellent character and strategic acumen. He believes that based on their performance in the first Paris encounter, D’Tigress is well-positioned to advance further in the tournament.