D’Tigress, Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, faced their first defeat at the Paris 2024 Olympics. They fell to a 75-54 loss against France in their second Group C match in Paris on Thursday as reported by PUNCH Sports Extra.
The game was not as dominant as their previous 75-54 victory against Australia. However, Ezinne Kalu showcased an exceptional performance, continuing her impressive form at the Games with her second outstanding display.
Despite the hope for consecutive wins following their triumph over the Opals on Monday, Rena Wakama’s team was outplayed by the strong and defensive French side. Gabby Williams stood out with 14 points, seven assists, and six steals, leading France to a 2-0 record at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
France has showcased remarkable defensive skills in their two games, restricting Nigeria to the same score as they did against Canada in their opening match.
Marine Johannes contributed 15 points for the French team, displaying aggressiveness and physicality with 14 fouls and 13 steals.
France’s dominance was evident in the paint, shooting an impressive 22-of-35 from inside the three-point line.
Despite the loss, Kalu had another standout performance with 18 points, but lacked significant support apart from Murjanatu Liman Musa’s 14 points.
Nigeria’s total points fell short of their 75-point performance in the opening game against Australia, with 15 points coming from free throws.
With a 1-1 record, D’Tigress now shares the same standing as Australia, while Canada remains winless at 0-2.
Wakama’s team will have an opportunity to secure a historic knockout berth when they face Canada on Saturday. Meanwhile, France aims to maintain their perfect record in the group stage as they face Australia in the upcoming match.