Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, crashed out of the 2024 Olympic Games after losing 88-74 to the United States of America in the quarterfinals of the women’s basketball event last night.

The team became the first African side – male or female – to reach the quarterfinals of an Olympic Games by beating Canada in their final group match on Sunday.

After registering a win on their Olympic debut in Athens in 2004, Nigeria had to wait 20 years for their second victory – beating Australia in their opening pool game on 29 July – but overcoming a vastly experienced USA was a step too far.

The USA will now face Australia, who beat Serbia 85-67, on Friday with a place in the gold-medal final up for grabs.