The United States has the best talent pool in the world in both men’s and women’s basketball.
There is a good chance both teams will win both gold medals in the Paris Olympics.
But the most intriguing part of these tournaments has been the emergence of the African teams which eventually could have an unlimited ceiling. If the country’s involved supply much needed resources.
Consider this: South Sudan men’s, which played the heavily favored Americans to a one-point game in a pre-Olympic turnup in London, made its first appearance ever in the 12-team tournament defeating Puerto Rico and being competitive against medal contender Serbia in group play. The Nigerian women took it a step farther, defeating established power Canada to advance to the knockout round. This was history the making. African women’s teams were 1-37 in Olympic competition prior to this summer.
“I hope young girls are watching this,’; Nigerian coach Rene Wakama said. “I wanted to be the first, but I don’t want to be the last. “It’s surreal and I don’t think it’s going to to hit me yet for another couple hours. I am proud of my girls, and I have pushed them so hard. I have pushed them harder than anyone I can even imagine. It’s because I know what they can do, and we did that today and we showed them who we are.”
Guard Ezinne Kalu scored 21 points in a 79-70 win over Canada for the 2-1 Nigerians. The team went to mid court to celebrate, and an assistant coach recorded the moment on her cell phone. The team stopped to high five the Canadians, then returned to their celebration. An assistant coach grabbed a flag from a fan for photos on the court and the Nigerians took their time hugging and posing for more photos. The Canadians, ranked fifth in the world, left winless after three games in group play, eliminated by a team ranked 12th
Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2016 games in Rio and went winless in Tokyo. The women’s team was denied access to Nigeria’s boat during opening ceremonies. But will now play in Bercy Arena on the banks of the Seine Wednesday.
Nigeria, which physically overwhelmed Australia earlier in group play, scored the first six points of the game against Canada. Captain Amy Okonkwo injured her right shoulder early in the second quarter after colliding with Canadian forward Aaliyah Edwards while diving for a loose ball and Canada took a 41-37 lead at halftime. Okonkwo returned for the third quarter when Nigeria opened with a 13-1 run. the Nigerians outscored Canada 23-5 in the third and took a 60-46 lead into the fourth.
Elizabeth Balogun added 14 points for Nigeria and Promise Amukamara had 12. The Tigress, the team’s nickname, limited Canada to just 37 percent and 5 for 26 from the three. Their identitfy has been built around their defense and the pressure guards Kalu and Okonkwo apply in particular. In the three games so far, they forced 69 turnovers by their opponents including 40 steals.
“I have always been a fighter growing up,” Wakama said. ”You tell me I can’t do something, and I am going to tell you that I can.”
South Sudan men were another Cinderella story. The team has been completely funded by former NBA player Luol Deng for the last four years.
