Nigerian squad celebrates first Olympic win in 20 years (Photo: fiba.basketball)
In 2021, Australia and Nigeria faced off in a pre-Olympic scrimmage that ended in a disastrous sequence of events. During an aggressive play, former Opals center Liz Cambage elbowed Nigerian star Victoria Macaulay in the face. Macaulay then punched Cambage, who had also used racial slurs against the African team. The game was halted, and Cambage decided to withdraw from the competition.
Three years later, Australia and Nigeria met again in an official game to tip off Group B action at the Paris Olympics this Monday, July 29. Without Cambage and led by New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello, the Opals, ranked third in the world, were the expected winners against the Tigress, who ranked 12th. But no Olympics is complete without an underdog win.
Nigeria surprised Australia with a 75-62 victory, led by Ezinne Kalu’s 19 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three steals. The triumph was the country's first in an Olympic event in 20 years.
Promise Amukamara was another standout for Nigeria and was only one assist short of a double-double, scoring 14 points and dishing nine dimes while also tallying six rebounds and four steals. Two more Nigerian players finished in double-figures: Amy Okonkwo, 13 points, and Murjanato Musa, 11 points.
"Our plan was to be aggressive; our plan was to be extremely– to have a lot of ball pressure," Okonkwo told Black Rosie Media after the game.
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