Paris: Nigeria’s women became the first team from the African continent, men or women, ever to reach the quarter-finals of an Olympic basketball tournament on Sunday.
The Nigerians clinched their place in the last eight by beating Canada 79-70 at the Pierre-Mauroy Stadium near Lille.
The win means Nigeria are guaranteed to finish among the top three in Group B but the Canadians were eliminated without registering a single victory.
The Nigerians outscored the Canadians 23-5 in the third quarter. US-born Ezinne Kalu top-scored with 21 points and Elizabeth Balogun scored 14 points.
The draw for the women’s quarter-finals will be made later Sunday with the games to be played on Wednesday.
The knockout stages of the men’s and women’s basketball tournament will be played in Paris.
