Paris, August 4, 2024 — Nigeria’s women’s basketball team has achieved a historic milestone at the Paris 2024 Olympics by advancing to the quarter-finals, a feat never before accomplished by an African nation in men’s or women’s basketball.
The team secured their place in the elimination round with a commanding 79-70 victory over Canada on Sunday, following an impressive performance from Ezinne Kalu, who scored 21 points.
With the final buzzer, the Nigerian players erupted in celebration, running around the court waving Nigerian flags. Their jubilant scenes were captured by an assistant coach recording the moment on her phone.
The team shared high-fives with their Canadian opponents before regrouping for a midcourt huddle, savoring their historic achievement.
“This means a lot, not just to us as a team, but to the entire world of Africa,” Kalu said. “It only gets harder from here.”
Head coach Rena Wakama echoed the sentiment, describing the moment as “surreal” and expressing her pride in the team’s accomplishments. “This isn’t going to hit me for another couple of hours,” she said.
Nigeria’s journey to the quarter-finals is especially significant given the recent struggles the team has faced.
After reaching the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup, Nigeria’s basketball program encountered several setbacks, including a winless performance at the Tokyo 2021 Games and internal conflicts that led to the team missing the 2022 World Cup.
The Olympics began on a challenging note, with the team being denied access to Nigeria’s boat for the opening ceremony on July 26. However, the squad has shown resilience, overcoming these hurdles to secure their spot among the final eight teams in Paris.
This achievement comes on the heels of Nigeria’s surprising victory against Australia in their opening game, which marked the first Olympic win for the African nation in two decades.
Now, Nigeria is set to play in the Bercy Arena on the banks of the Seine River on Wednesday, continuing their historic run in the tournament.
The success of Nigeria’s women’s team is not only a personal triumph but also a significant moment for African basketball.
FIBA Africa Regional Director Alphonse Bil praised the team’s accomplishment, stating, “We have these women. So we are very proud. I can say that they don’t just play for Nigeria but play for Africa.”
In a parallel development, South Sudan’s men’s basketball team, making its Olympic debut, narrowly missed joining Nigeria in the quarter-finals.
South Sudan fell short in their final group-stage match against Serbia, despite their earlier victory over Puerto Rico.
As Nigeria prepares for the next stage of the competition, the team and their supporters are buoyed by their historic achievements.
Kalu’s reflection on their journey captures the mood perfectly: “I’m starting to see the light. I mean, the tunnel has been pretty dark, but I’m happy we get to see the light. I mean, there’s so much more, there’s so much more to come.
