The Nigerian female basketball team has become the darling of most Nigerians and others a like, especially sports lovers. This follows their recent impressive run of results at the ongoing Olympics games in Paris France.
They first demolished World 3rd ranked Australia, then lost to Japan before demolishing another top ranked team Canada (5th ranked) in the last game to book a place in the quarter finals.
Since then, millions of people have been singing their praises. Basically not because of the number of wins actually, but looking at the caliber of teams they have crushed on their way to the quarter finals, you can’t help but fall in love with the girls.
Ahead of their penultimate clash with the US women’s basketball team on Wednesday August 7, 2024, the D’Tigress has achieved some other feat outside the field of play.
First, the Nigeria’s D’Tigress has now moved up four places to rank 8th in the latest power rankings. Probably the first African team to achieve that feat.
On the other hand, the D’Tigress team has made it to the top among the top performers in the basketball game at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Ezinne Kalu after three games has gathered twenty one (21) points. Others on the list are Emma Meesseman of Belgium with 30 points, Jackie Young of USA with 19 points, Elise Ramette of USA with 26 points, and Sani Whitcomb of Australia with 22 points, to complete the top five ranked performers at the Paris Olympics so far.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria’s D’Tigress has emerged the first African team ever, male or female, to reach the quarterfinals of Olympic basketball.
While we hope for the best on Wednesday, the truth is that we are really up for something tougher than we had encountered at the tournament so far. The U.S is one of the best countries when it comes to the game of basketball.
(Nigeria’s D’Tigress’ Head Coach, Rena Wakama)
But if we can put up more of the performances that has brought us this far, I think we are going to give the US a run for their money.
