The Nigerian women’s basketball team achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first African team, male or female, to reach the Olympic quarterfinals in basketball.
Nigeria secured a remarkable 79-70 victory over Canada on Sunday, driven by Ezinna Kalu’s impressive 21-point performance.
The win not only advanced Nigeria to the quarterfinals but also doubled the country’s number of wins in pool play, marking a significant improvement for a team that sought its first Olympic victory since the 2004 Athens Games.
This landmark victory came after Nigeria’s previous failures to qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and their winless campaign at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The Nigerian team celebrated the momentous occasion midcourt, with an assistant coach capturing the celebration on her phone. The team briefly paused to high-five the Canadian players before returning to their jubilant huddle.
The celebratory atmosphere extended to the court, where an assistant coach retrieved a flag from a fan, and the players took their time posing for photos.
Canada, ranked fifth globally, ended their Olympic run winless in three games, eliminated by the 12th-ranked Nigerian team on the final day of group play.
As Nigeria looks forward to learning their quarterfinal opponent, five teams have already secured their spots: the United States, Spain, Serbia, France, and Germany. The draw for the quarterfinals will follow the final game between Australia and host nation France.
Despite being denied access to Nigeria’s boat for the opening ceremony on July 26, the Nigerian women’s team remains undeterred, preparing to face their next challenge at Bercy Arena on the banks of the Seine River on Wednesday.
Nigeria’s path to victory included scoring the first six points of the game and overcoming a mid-game challenge when Captain Amy Okonkwo injured her shoulder but returned to lead her team.
A pivotal 13-1 run in the third quarter allowed Nigeria to take a commanding lead, outscoring Canada 23-5 in that period and entering the fourth quarter with a 60-46 advantage.
In addition to Kalu’s standout performance, Elizabeth Balogun contributed 14 points, and Promise Amukamara added 12, ensuring Nigeria’s triumphant advance to the next round. For Canada, Shay Colley led with 17 points, supported by Bridget Carleton with 13 and Kayla Alexander with 12, but it wasn’t enough to stop the determined Nigerian squad.
As the Nigerian women’s basketball team prepares for their historic quarterfinal match, they do so with the pride and hope of representing Africa on the Olympic stage.
