Ahead of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Antwerp, Belgium, the Nigerian women’s basketball team, D’Tigress adopted the mantra “dauntless” as their guiding principle during preparation.
Their relentless pursuit paid off as Nigeria clinched an Olympic quota for Paris 2024, courtesy of their stellar performance in the tournament.
With the exclusive authority vested in National Olympic Committees (NOCs) for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, the participation of athletes in the Paris Games hinges upon their NOCs selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
D’Tigress Falls to Belgium 78-61 in Final Showdown
Following a resounding 100-46 defeat at the hands of the reigning world champions, the US, on Friday, the Nigerian women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, concluded their journey in the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament with a loss to Belgium on Sunday.
In their last match of the qualifiers held in Antwerp, the reigning European champions emerged victorious with a final scoreline of 78-61 against the African champions.
Rena Wakama fielded a starting lineup comprising Elizabeth Balogun, Blessing Ejiofor, Pallas Kunaiyi Akpanah, Promise Amukamara, and Amy Okonkwo.
Right from the outset, the hosts showcased their prowess as European champions, seizing control early in the game and finishing the first quarter with a commanding 22-11 lead.
The second quarter witnessed a more evenly contested battle, with both teams matching each other point for point, resulting in an 18-18 draw. However, Belgium managed to maintain their advantage, heading into halftime with a 40-29 lead over their African counterparts.
Despite a valiant effort by D’Tigress in the third quarter, during which they mounted a spirited comeback with eight consecutive points, narrowing the deficit to five, their momentum was short-lived as Belgium launched a relentless offensive, scoring 15 unanswered points and widening the gap even.
