Olympic Games: disappointment for Nigerian basketball in Tokyo 2021
Nigerian playmaker Ezinne Kalu, caught in a pincer movement by the Japanese defense, at the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games. REUTERS - SERGIO PEREZ
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
4 min
Nigeria's men's and women's basketball teams came to the Olympics with big ambitions.
The result: six defeats in six matches in Tokyo 2021 and a big disappointment for African basketball which relied heavily on the D'Tigers and D'Tigress.
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From our special correspondent in Saitama,
They wanted to break everything at
the Olympics
.
But Nigerians were not at the party in Tokyo, in basketball.
This August 2, the women's selection was even dominated 103-82 by that of Japan for its last group match.
Conclusion: three defeats in three meetings.
Either the same as that of the men's team, which was expected to be very strong after victories against the United States and Argentina in preparation.
The D'Tigers lost to Australia (84-65), Germany (99-92) and Italy (80-71).
Nigeria's
playmaker
Ezinne Kalu
was devastated after this big disillusionment
at the Olympics
. “
It's really hard
,” she sighs.
When you come to a competition like this, you want to win at least one game. But we lost all three ... I'm proud of the way the girls played against the United States (
81-72 loss)
. But the defeats against Japan and France (87-62) hurt. During the Olympics, you want to fight, win and qualify. But at the Olympics, it's the international level. All the best athletes in the world are there.
"
Beaten by Alessandro Pajola's Italy, Kezie Okpala's Nigerians also left the Tokyo 2021 Olympics in the first round.
Pool via REUTERS - ARIS MESSINIS
AfroBasket in the crosshairs
Ezinne Kalu, like eight others of the twelve D'Tigress present at these Olympics, was born in the United States.
In recent years, the Nigerian Basketball Federation has cheerfully drawn on the huge pool of American players of Nigerian descent.
This strategy allowed both teams to progress very quickly.
To the point that Nigerians have been champions of Africa and their female counterparts are double title holders on the continent and reached the quarterfinals of the last World Cup, a first for an African nation.
“
It's another level.
All the teams are eager for victories at the Games,
”however believes Promise Amukamara, after the setback against Japan.
However, the substitute playmaker does not want to throw everything away.
“
We have new players and we have all improved individually
,” she says.
I think it really marks a step forward compared to the 2018 World Cup
”.
The Nigerians will try to become African champions again at AfroBasket 2021, scheduled from August 24 to September 5 in Kigali, while the D'Tigresses will defend their two consecutive titles, from September 17 to 26 in Cameroon.
► Tokyo 2021: Calendar of events, results, medal table
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