D’Tigress’ point guard Ezinne Kalu believes there is still much more to come from the team as they continue their remarkable journey at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The three-time AfroBasket champion, originally from New Jersey, expressed her thoughts following the team’s impressive 79-70 victory over Canada in their final Group B match on Sunday. This win secured them a spot in the semifinals where they will face the USA on Wednesday night at the iconic Bercy Arena along the Seine River.
Despite being grouped with higher-ranked teams like Australia, France, and Canada in the Women’s Basketball Tournament, Rena Wakama’s squad defied expectations to advance.
Their campaign began with a surprising 75-54 win against Australia, marking their first Olympic victory in two decades. Although they faced a defeat against France by the same margin in their second game, they bounced back by defeating Canada, making history as the first African team (men or women) to progress beyond the group stage in Olympic basketball.
Initially leading the group with five classification points, they slipped to third place after Australia defeated France 79-72 in the other group match.
Looking ahead to the upcoming clash with the USA, Kalu, a standout performer at major events like Tokyo 2020 and the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2018, emphasized that fans should anticipate more from the team.
“The Eiffel Tower, croissants, more food,” remarked Kalu, who contributed 21 points in the victory against Canada on Sunday.
Reflecting on their experience in Paris, she added, “It means a lot to us, not just as a team but to all of Africa. The road ahead will be challenging, but we are ready for it.”
Since her return to the national team after a three-year absence, Kalu has been a key presence in the team’s backcourt.