Nigeria’s D’Tigress continued to set a new record after becoming the first African team to be competing in its third Olympic Games after the Rene Wakama-tutored side clinched qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France.
Despite losing gallantly to the United States on Friday, February 9 at the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Antwerp, Belgium, the come-back win over Senegal on day 1, was all the team needed to punch their way to Paris.
Despite losing to a formidable opponent in the USA earlier in the day, a subsequent victory by Belgium over Senegal was enough to wrap up a ticket to Paris with a game to spare against hosts- Belgium on Sunday, February 11. The American ladies made light work of taking down Nigeria at the in Antwerp as they turned up the heat by beating the African side 100-46.
Nigeria’s qualification ensured that the African champions secured back-to-back appearances at the showpiece event, having also featured at Tokyo 2020.
The team’s maiden appearance at the Olympic Games was at 2004 Athens Olympics in Greece.
According to FIBA, “Having seen other African nations punch tickets previously for the Olympics, that badge of honor was something Nigeria adopted in 2004 when they made history with a debut in Athens.
Then after a long wait, it finally happened again for them as they got their spot for Tokyo 2020. And, while the African champs struggled on the court and finished one off the bottom, that was not a surprise in a nightmare group with all three podium teams.
Their return to the big show in 2024 might see them able to improve on two 11th placed finishes.