Basketball: Nigeria’s D-Tigress’ Olympic dream halted by team USA in quarterfinals of Paris 2024 Olympics
The exceptional journey of Nigeria’s D’Tigress at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games came to an end in the quarterfinals, where they were defeated by the formidable United States team with a score of 88-74. While they had hoped to achieve a historic feat, the D’Tigress had to bow to American power, marking the end of their Olympic adventure.
This defeat signifies the elimination of the only African representative that managed to reach the quarterfinals of the women’s basketball tournament, an unprecedented achievement in Nigeria’s history. Despite the disappointment of this elimination, Rena Wakama’s team can be proud of their journey, which will remain etched in the annals of Nigerian sports.
The D’Tigress demonstrated unwavering determination throughout the tournament, notably defeating top teams like Australia and Canada to reach the quarterfinals. These victories not only inspired a nation but also showed that African women’s basketball can compete with the best teams in the world.
Although the D’Tigress’ Olympic dream was cut short, their performance at Paris 2024 hints at a promising future for women’s basketball in Nigeria and Africa. Their achievements on the court have paved the way for a new generation of players ready to continue raising the level of the sport on the continent.
