D’Tigress Coach Rena Wakama and team captain Amy Okonkwo have shared insights into how Nigeria’s women’s basketball team made history by advancing to the quarterfinals of the Olympics for the first time since their debut in Athens in 2004.
Following a victory against Canada on Sunday, August 4, D’Tigress achieved a remarkable milestone as the first African basketball team, regardless of gender, to progress beyond the group stage in Olympic basketball history.
The team’s resurgence was evident as they secured two wins at the Olympics, a feat that solidified their progress in the tournament and sent Canada home.
After a challenging game against France, head coach Rena Wakama emphasized the importance of reverting to their winning strategies for the match against Canada. This tactical adjustment proved to be pivotal in securing their historic victory.
Despite Canada’s strong squad and recent success in international competitions, D’Tigress showcased their dominance with an impressive 11-0 run at the start of the second half, leaving Canada struggling to mount a comeback.
Ezinne Kalu’s impactful performance, contributing 21 points, and Elizabeth Balogun’s standout display with 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, played crucial roles in Nigeria’s triumph.
Reflecting on the win, team captain Amy Okonkwo said: “I am so proud of us. The last game wasn’t good for us, and even in the first half today (Sunday), we were not doing what we wanted to come out and do. We talked with ourselves and realised it was win or go home, and we decided we wanted to stay.”
Coach Rena Wakama expressed her immense pride in the team’s achievement, emphasizing the dedication and hard work that propelled them to this groundbreaking moment.
“It’s surreal, and I don’t think it’s going to hit me yet for another couple of hours”, Wakama told FIBA.com.
“I am proud of my girls, and I have pushed them so hard. I have pushed them harder than anyone can even imagine. It’s because I know what they can do, and we did that today, and we showed them who we are.
“It’s about every little detail, and I make them start over [if not done right]. I make them do everything right for these reasons. So, in crunch time and pressure situations, we can execute when our backs are up against the wall.
“I am going to get emotional. I mean, oh jeez—trust the process, keep fighting, keep pushing.
“I have always been a fighter growing up. You tell me I can’t do something, and I am going to tell you that I can.
“I hope young girls are watching this. I wanted to be the first, but I didn’t want to be the last. If we invest in Africa, we are capable of doing really amazing things. We have to put some eyes on Africa and develop the game there, and it starts with grassroots. It will make the game so much better.
“When we are focused on something and when we all come together, we are powerful. Our whole team, support staff, and coaches have the same mindset—a winning mindset.
“I am glad we did have that loss because we were able to get back to what we do best. Also, there’s no pressure now on us, and we have shown everyone that we deserve to be playing here.”
Note that African teams have recorded just one win in a combined 37 basketball games at the Olympics before the 2024 edition of the competition. Interestingly, D’Tigress were the side that recorded the win against South Korea in 2004.
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