Nigeria’s women’s basketball team made history by becoming the first African team, male or female, to reach the Olympic quarterfinals. They achieved this milestone with a 79-70 victory over Canada on Sunday.
A Historic Win
Ezinne Kalu led Nigeria with 21 points, helping the team secure their spot in the quarterfinals. The Nigerians, with a 2-1 record, previously had only one Olympic win from the 2004 Athens Games. Their quarterfinal opponent is the United States, who are aiming for their eighth consecutive gold medal.
After the win over Canada, Kalu and her teammates celebrated at midcourt. An assistant coach recorded the moment on her phone, while the team high-fived the Canadian players before gathering for a group hug and photos with a Nigerian flag.
Canada, ranked fifth in the world, was eliminated after losing all three of their games in group play, while Nigeria, ranked 12th, continued to make history.
Other Olympic Quarterfinal Matches
Australia vs. France
Australia defeated France 79-72 in the final game of group play, securing the last quarterfinal spot. The game drew a record attendance for women’s basketball in Europe, with 27,193 fans in the stadium. The Australians will face Serbia in the quarterfinals.
Tess Madgen led Australia with 18 points, while Ezi Magbegor added 14. Gabby Williams scored 15 points for France, who finished with a 2-1 record.
U.S. vs. Germany
The United States showcased their depth by defeating Germany 87-68, with Jackie Young scoring 19 points. The Americans clinched the top seed in their group and extended their Olympic winning streak to 58 consecutive games, dating back to the 1992 Barcelona Games.
Belgium vs. Japan
Belgium secured a quarterfinal spot with an 85-58 victory over Japan. Emma Meesseman led Belgium with 30 points and 11 rebounds. Japan, the silver medalist from the Tokyo Games, was eliminated after finishing 0-3 in group play.
Belgium needed to win by 27 points to advance, and Elise Ramette’s 3-pointer with 4:52 remaining pushed the lead to the required margin. Ramette finished with 16 points, while Saki Hayashi led Japan with 13.
Nigeria’s Journey
Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, which failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games and went winless in Tokyo, is now set to play the United States in Bercy Arena, located on the banks of the Seine River.
The team overcame challenges, including being denied access to Nigeria’s boat for the opening ceremony on July 26. In their historic win against Canada, Nigeria overcame a halftime deficit and outscored Canada 23-5 in the third quarter to take control of the game. Elizabeth Balogun contributed 14 points for Nigeria, while Promise Amukamara added 12.
With their place in history secured, Nigeria looks forward to their next challenge against the formidable U.S. team.