D’Tigress Of Nigeria Suffer First Defeat At 2024 Paris Olympics

Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have suffered their first defeat in their second Group C game at the Paris 2024 Olympics, losing 75-54 to France.

The game didn’t unfold as smoothly as D’Tigress’ previous impressive victory over Australia in their Group C opener.

In the loss to France, Ezinne Kalu, the talented point guard, and three-time AfroBasket champion, stood out as the best performer once again, demonstrating her exceptional skills in the match.

Kalu once again displayed her outstanding skills, scoring 18 points, while receiving limited support from her teammates.

Despite her brilliant display, she couldn’t help D’Tigress to break down a formidable French side known for their strong defence, which proved to be the deciding factor in the game.

Gabby Williams played a pivotal role for France in the encounter with 14 points, seven assists, and six steals, contributing to their 2-0 record in the tournament.

Also, Marine Johannes made significant contributions to the French team, scoring 15 points. France’s dominance in the paint was evident as they displayed high efficiency inside the three-point line, shooting 22-of-35.

At the back, the French team showcased exceptional defensive prowess, limiting coach Rena Wakama’s team’s scoring opportunities and demonstrating physicality throughout the game.

Nigeria’s total points fell short of their previous performance, with a considerable portion coming from free throws.

With this defeat, D’Tigress, alongside Australia, now holds a 1-1 record, while Canada sits at 0-2. As it stands, the Nigerian basketball team must beat Canada to stand a chance of qualifying for the next round of the tournament.