2024 Olympics: Ezinne Kalu, Okonkwo, Reveals How D’Tigress Beat Australia

Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress duo of Ezinne Kalu and Amy Okonkwo have revealed how they emerged victorious in their first game of the 2024 Olympics Women’s Basketball Tournament.

In a remarkable performance against Australia in Group B on Monday, July 29, Ezinne Kalu, the point guard of D’Tigress, played a pivotal role in securing a 75-62 win.

The Nigerian team, ranked 12th in the world, defied expectations by defeating the world’s third-best team, marking their first Olympic success in 20 years.

D’Tigress’ impressive performance was marked by their strong defensive play, forcing Australia to concede a significant number of turnovers.

After the game, Ezinne Kalu emphasized the team’s relentless defence and issued a warning to their upcoming opponents, Canada and France, stating that they “smell blood” whenever they are on the court.

She said, “Our defence was relentless. Nobody defends quite like us.

“When we are on the court, we smell blood. Nobody defends quite like us, and that is what keeps us going.

“Australia came out in the second half with their veterans and an amazing coach who knows what she’s doing, but we kept our foot on the gas and kept on going.

“Wow, this really means a lot for our country. Coming into this competition, we were ranked 12th [in the Power Rankings], and Australia, I think, were third or fourth.”

“Today we made a statement that we are not going to give up, and no matter what country we play, we are going to play our basketball.

“We are a family, and sometimes you fight with your brother and your sister, and then the next day you make up and be friends again the next day.

“That is what we have been doing in these past years. We have been trying to just stay together as a team, and today proved that we can be great.”

Ezinne Kalu’s outstanding contribution to the game, with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals, showcased her exceptional skill and leadership.

After the game, the team’s head coach, Rene Wakama, expressed immense pride and excitement for the historic win and praised Ezinne Kalu for her exceptional performance.

The coach said: “She sees what we don’t see in ourselves sometimes. She trusts us, and we trust her. It’s good to have someone who knows the game so well and wants us to succeed so much.”

Meanwhile, the team’s captain, Amy Okonkwo, reflected on their hard-fought victory, emphasizing the team’s resilience and unity in overcoming adversity.

She said: “It feels so good. We stuck together and we came together in adversity. This is what it is all about—you fight.”