2016 Rio Olympics: Nigerian women are out of FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament

Nigerian women are out of the basketball event of the 2016 Olympics after they finished third in Group C of the 2016 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The tournament was played in Nantes, France.

The coach Scott Nnaji-led ladies failed in their bid to qualify for their second Olympic Games after the three teams in the group were tied on three points each after their two games but Belarus and South Korea qualified for the quarterfinals. Nigeria has only made one appearance in the women’s basketball event of the Olympics. They appeared for the first time at Athens 2004.

D’Tigress on Monday lost their first game 71-60 to Belarus but defeated South Korea 70-69 on Tuesday with Savannah State point guard, Ezinne Kalu, saving the team from the early exit with her last second three-pointer.

The team were hoping for a Belarusian win over the Koreans on Wednesday to qualify for the quarterfinals but the Asians defeated the Europeans 66-65.

According to FIBA.com, Belarus topped the group having scored 136 points while they conceded 126 points to arrive at a point difference of +10. Korea were second after they scored 135 points and conceded 135 points to arrive at a zero points difference. Nigeria finished third having amassed a deficit of -10 points from scoring 130 points and conceding 140 points.

The top five teams from the tournament, which will end on June 19, will qualify for the Rio Games.

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