Nigeria vs Australia Prediction & Betting Tips - Olympic Matches Women

Prediction published on 28/07/2024, 02:54  by Kennedy Kechula | Modified on 28/07/2024 at 02:59 in Basketball Predictions

Nigeria are back at the Summer Olympics and will begin their Women’s Basketball campaign against Australia in Group B. Here’s our preview and a prediction for the match.

Nigeria are making back-to-back Olympic appearances for the first time in their history. Africa’s sole representatives were present in Tokyo in 2021 but were unable to go past the groups. Led then by Otis Hughley, Nigeria were bundled out without a single win.

Now, coached by former Nigeria player Rena Wakama, the D’Tigress will be fired up to make a massive improvement. Nigeria, who qualified for their third Olympic appearance via the qualifying tournament in Antwerp, have struggled in recent matches. They have lost four straight games and were defeated 70-62 by Serbia in their last outing.

Australia have also had form concerns while preparing for their eighth successive Summer Games. Sandy Brondello’s players had seven build-up matches and managed just three wins. One of their losses was against Canada whom they face later in Group B.

Despite this unconvincing run, the Opals will be confident of making a winning start here. They have never lost against Nigeria the two times they faced off. Their first battle was in 2004 in the preliminary rounds of the Athens games.

In their most recent encounter, Australia won 86-68 in the group stages of the 2018 World Cup. The Oceania nation made it to Paris via the qualifying tournament in Belem, Brazil. Australia have only missed three of the 12 times Women’s Basketball has been played at the Olympics. They have qualified from their group in each of the last editions and have made a podium finish five times.