Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, the D’Tigress, opened their pre-Olympic slate with a 77-63 defeat to Germany.
This exhibition game served as a valuable opportunity to identify areas for improvement before the Paris 2024 Olympics tip-off.
Despite the loss, some D’Tigress players displayed strong performances. Forward Amy Okonkwo led the team in scoring with 16 points and 2 rebounds, while Elizebeth Balogun added 14 points and 5 rebounds.
Murjanatu Musa also chipped in with a well-rounded performance of 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Germany’s Alexis Peterson emerged as the game’s top scorer with 22 points.
The Rena Wakama-led team will play two more exhibition games against Serbia and Puerto Rico before the Olympics proper.
The D’Tigress will look to bounce back in their Olympic opener against Australia. They’ll then face host nation France and basketball powerhouse Canada. Securing at least two victories will be crucial for the team to advance from the group stage.
