On Thursday, February 8, in Antwerp, Belgium, Nigeria won the first game of the FIBA Olympic Basketball Qualification Tournament, 72-65 on the strength of Nigeria. Amy OkonkwoIt’s a double double. The 27-year-old had 21 points and 10 rebounds in a win that could have a huge impact on Nigeria’s bid for an Olympic berth.
Nigeria coach Lena Wakama said her team chose the word “bravery” when deciding on the team’s focus for this tournament, and it is reflected in the team’s play.
“I’m glad they literally did whatever they set their minds to. It was great as a coach to see you come together and fight back when things weren’t going well,” Wakama said in the post-game press conference. ” he said.
Senegal took the lead in the second quarter and held on until Nigeria scored in the fourth with two big shots from Laurent Eboh.Senegalese Yassin Diop He scored 21 points in the first half, but stalled in the final stages of the game.
The game was a rematch of the 2023 FIBA AfroBasket Finals. Nigeria won that game 84-74 after a big game from Amy Okonkwo. Senegal have changed managers ahead of 2024, with new manager Alberto Carlos Antuna Real saying he was impressed with his new team despite the loss.
“This was my first game as head coach of the national team. And I think I saw almost everything I wanted to see today. I thought they were really good. They played head-to-head against Nigeria. We Just as Nigeria hasn’t lost to an African team since 2015. And they’ve got to really play basketball and they’ve got to play really hard to win today,” he said.
The FIBA Olympic Qualification Tournament will determine the Olympic berths for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The United States has already secured a spot by winning the 2022 FIBA World Cup, so there are two spots available. Nigeria will play the United States on Friday (February 9), while Senegal will face Belgium.
National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority to represent their countries at the Olympic Games, so athletes’ participation in the Paris Games depends on whether the NOC selects athletes for their delegations to the Paris 2024 Games. I am.
FIBA Women’s Basketball Olympic Qualification Preview