Sports
France Overcome D’Tigress in Olympic Basketball Clash
Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, faced their first loss at the Paris 2024 Olympics, falling 75-54 to France in their second Group C match on Thursday.
The game contrasted sharply with their earlier 75-54 triumph over Australia. Despite the defeat, Ezinne Kalu delivered another standout performance, following her excellent showing against Australia. The New Jersey-born point guard and three-time AfroBasket champion continued to impress with her skills.
After a strong start to the tournament, Rena Wakama’s squad hoped for a consecutive victory. However, they were stifled by France’s robust defense. Gabby Williams led France with 14 points, seven assists, and six steals, contributing to their 2-0 record in the group stage.
France demonstrated formidable defensive prowess, restricting Nigeria to the same scoreline as in their initial game against Canada. Marine Johannes added 15 points, and the French team’s physical play resulted in 14 fouls and 13 steals.
The French team also dominated in the paint, converting 22 of 35 attempts from inside the 3-point line. Despite Nigeria’s defeat, Kalu excel with 18 points, though support was limited, with Murjanatu Liman Musa contributing 14 points.
Nigeria’s scoring fell short of their earlier performance, with 15 points coming from free throws. D’Tigress now share a 1-1 record with Australia, while Canada remains winless at 0-2.
Wakama’s team will aim for a crucial win against Canada on Saturday to secure a spot in the knockout stages, while France seeks to maintain their perfect group stage record against Australia.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially designated Morocco as the host for the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League finals. The tournament will take place from November 9 to November 23, as announced on CAF’s official website.
Morocco previously hosted the last edition of this prestigious competition. Among the eight teams competing this year is Nigeria’s champions, Edo Queens. The current title holders are Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa.
The tournament offers significant financial incentives, with winners receiving $400,000 and runners-up taking home $250,000.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has equaled Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 10 international hat-tricks after scoring three times in a dominant 6-0 victory against Bolivia in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.
In addition to his goals, the 37-year-old forward also provided two assists, showcasing his playmaking abilities. With this win, Argentina solidifies its position in the South American qualifiers, currently leading the table three points ahead of second-placed Colombia and six points clear of their arch-rivals Brazil.
On the same evening, Ronaldo’s Portugal faced Scotland in the UEFA Nations League but was held to a frustrating 0-0 draw, leaving the superstar visibly upset post-match.
Fenerbahce manager, Jose Mourinho, is reportedly planning a January transfer move for Barcelona forward Ansu Fati. After spending last season on loan at Brighton in the Premier League, Fati, now 21, returned to Barcelona but has struggled for game time under new coach Hansi Flick.
Once considered a potential successor to Lionel Messi, Fati’s limited opportunities at Barça have fueled speculation about a possible departure. According to *AS*, Mourinho is keen to bring the Spain international to the Turkish league, offering him the chance for regular football at Fenerbahce.
Fenerbahce’s sporting director, Mario Branco, is expected to initiate discussions with Fati’s representatives soon, confident that the promise of consistent playing time will help secure the forward’s move.
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