Amy Okonkwo: ‘We stuck together, and we came together in adversity’

D’Tigress forward, Amy Okonkwo who claimed MVP honors at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2023 and also impressed in a big way at the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 in Antwerp was inspirational as the Nigerian senior female basketball team stunned Australia to end their two-decade wait to experience that Olympic winning feeling again.

The Nigerians defeated the Opals 75-62 in their opening game of the Women’s Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024.

It was a sensational performance by the African side as they capitalized on Australian turnovers to take victory in front of another huge crowd in Lille.

Okonkwo to FIBA website D’Tigress fought for the win.

‘It feels so good. We stuck together and we came together in adversity. This is what it is all about – you fight,’ Okonkwo said.

The win is Nigeria’s only second win in the Women’s Olympic Basketball tournament, after their 68-64 defeat of South Korea in 2004; it is however their first win in nine games in the preliminary round.

They conceded only 62 points on Monday, fewer than in any of their previous games in the competition.