Natalie Chioma Achonwa played against the Nigerian female basketball team on Sunday afternoon, August 4, at the Paris Olympics. She’s representing Canada…
When it comes to doing great exploits across the world, certainly Nigerians are not push overs, but major contenders. We have had great individuals from this part of the world in different fields; medicine, sports, politics, business, entrepreneurship, etc.
At 31 year old, Chioma is the captain of the Canadian female basketball team at the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympics. She’s with Nigerian parentage though, but opted to represent the country of her birth.
Yes, her dad, Manny Achonwa, migrated from Nigeria to Canada at the age of 12, and later married a Canadian woman, Marion Achonwa, and resulting in the birth of Chioma.
Chioma attended Centennial Collegiate and Vocational Institute Guelph, in Ontario, that was for her grade-9. Then later moved to Hamilton Ontario were she played for Canada’s Basketball NEDA program, that was at the St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary school.
She most recently played for the Minnesota Lynx of the American Women National Basketball Association League. And with a height measuring 6 feet 3 inches (191 cm) tall, Chioma has remained a valuable asset for any team she finds herself.
In 2009, just at the age of 16, she became the youngest player to ever play on the Canadian national team. She took part in several national and international tournaments and games, including the 2012 Summer Olympics, the 2010 FIBA women’s World Championship, she played in the Women’s 2013 FIBA America’s championship in Xalapa, Mexico.
Few days ago at the Paris Olympics, Natalie Chioma Achonwa became Canada’s all time assist leader at the Olympics games with 37 assists. She broke the record previously held by Shona Thorburn who had 36 assists,
Unfortunately for her, the Nigerian female basketball team otherwise known as the D’Tigress dumped her country out of the Paris Olympics to qualify for the Quarterfinals.
The game which was played on Sunday August 4, 2024 ended 79-70 in favour of the D’Tigress.
This came after the Nigerian team defeated Australia in their first game and lost to Japan in the second game.
It was such an emotional scene at the end of the game as the Nigerian women celebrated with an overwhelming joy and happiness, after they qualified for the Quarterfinals for the first time in an Olympics game.
