US faces quarterfinals newcomer Nigeria as women's basketball elimination draw is official

US faces quarterfinals newcomer Nigeria as women’s basketball elimination draw is official

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Ezinne Kalu (23), and Promise Amukamara (10), of Nigeria, celebrate in a women’s basketball game against Canada at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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A’ja Wilson (9), of the United States, celebrates in front of Marie Guelich (11), of Germany, in a women’s basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Marine Johannes (23), of France, drives between Sami Whitcomb (32), and Tess Madgen (7), of Australia, in a women’s basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Australia’s Amy Atwell (17), hugs Jade Melbourne (2), after Australia defeated France in a women’s basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Australia’s Alanna Smith, center right, jumps into the arms of Lauren Jackson after drafting France in a women’s basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

By DOUG FEINBERG

VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France (AP) — Nigeria is headed to the quarterfinals, the first African team to ever make it that far at the Olympics.

The reward is a matchup with seven-time defending champion U.S. in Paris on Wednesday. The Olympic women’s basketball draw was announced late Sunday night.

The other matchups were Spain against Belgium, France against Germany and Serbia facing Australia. The winners of Spain-Belgium and France-Germany will meet in the semifinals on Friday. The Nigeria-U.S. winner plays the Serbia-Australia victory.

Nigeria became the first African country to make the men’s or women’s elimination round at the Olympics. The team was happy to be headed to Paris.

“The Eiffel Tower, croissants, more food,” said Ezinne Kalu, who led Nigeria with 21 points in the win over Canada on Sunday. “I mean, the little village has been great, but it’s only basketball there. So to go to Paris and see other athletes competing in their sports and just be around the great energy of so many different countries, and to be the only African club there for basketball competing, it just really means a lot to us. And it’s something that we’re not going to take for granted.”

The U.S. has been a mainstay in the Olympic quarterfinals and is riding a record 58-game Olympic winning streak. Nigeria had the seventh best record of the eight qualifiers, but the U.S. couldn’t play Belgium because the two teams were in the same pool.

The Nigerians finished third in their pool after Australia beat France 79-72, giving the Opals enough points to finish second in their group and avoid playing the U.S. That was France’s first loss of the tournament and cost the home team.

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“I’m just happy to survive. So, we got an opportunity to keep playing,” Australia coach Sandy Brondello said.

The Opals coach then added that it didn’t matter who the Australians played in the quarters “as long as not the USA.”

Canada, Japan, China and Puerto Rico didn’t advance to Paris.

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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Olympic Hightlights

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FILE - South Africa’s Jacques Freitag competes in the men’s high jump of the 2004 Olympic Games, in the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Friday Aug. 20, 2004. Local media is reporting that South African police have discovered the body of former high jump world champion Jacques Freitag after he went missing last month. The reports said the 42-year-old, who won the 2003 world title in Paris and competed at the 2004 Olympics, had been shot. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

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FILE - Jacques Freitag of South Africa waves his national flag after he won the Men’s high jump event at the World Athletics Championships, at the Stade de France in Saint Denis, north of Paris, Monday, Aug. 25, 2003. Local media is reporting that South African police have discovered the body of former high jump world champion Jacques Freitag after he went missing last month. The reports said the 42-year-old, who won the 2003 world title in Paris and competed at the 2004 Olympics, had been shot. (AP Photo/Thomas Kienzle, File)

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USA Water Polo Women’s Senior National Team attacker Ryann Neushul, left, trains at Long Beach City College Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, in Long Beach, Calif. Following in the footsteps of two older sisters who won gold with the U.S. women’s water polo team, Ryann Neushul is making her Olympic debut in Paris this summer. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

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Iranian wrestler Iman Mahdavi, 28, practices at the Lotta Club Seggiano gym, in Pioltello , northern Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

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