Tokyo Olympics: Nigeria’s D’Tigress narrowly lose 81-72 to US in opening game

Nigeria’s D’Tigress lost their first game against USA women’s basketball team at the Tokyo Olympics in a tightly contested game on Tuesday morning, July 27, 2021.

Before the game against Nigeria, the US have taken the court at the Olympic Games 49 times and won all 49 times.

Just less than two weeks ago they beat Nigeria by 31 points and were shocked as D’Tigress made an impressive 8-1 start, forcing the US to turn the ball over several times.

 

By the 2:12 mark, both sides were tied 16-16 and in foul trouble, and D’Tigress were soon back in the lead when Ify Ibekwe won a free throw to put Nigeria up 17-16 and another three-pointer at the buzzer to give Nigeria a shock 20-17 lead at the end of the first quarter.

 

Nigeria was the better team in the second half, making 40 points to the USA’s 37 in the last two quarters. But in the end, the US beat Nigeria 81-72The Nigerian team will face France in their next match on Friday.