The USA continued their cost for an eighth successive ladies’s basketball Olympic gold medal by beating Nigeria 88-74 to achieve the semi-finals.
They may face Australia, who beat Serbia 85-67, on Friday with a spot within the gold-medal remaining up for grabs.
Nigeria grew to become the primary African facet – male or feminine – to achieve the quarter-finals of an Olympic Games by beating Canada of their remaining group match on Sunday.
After registering a win on their Olympic debut in Athens in 2004, Nigeria needed to wait 20 years for his or her second victory – beating Australia of their opening pool sport on 29 July – however overcoming a vastly skilled USA was a step too far.
The crew generally known as D’Tigress trailed the USA by 9 factors on the finish of the primary quarter, however that deficit swelled to 19 by the tip of the second.
The USA began to say their dominance within the third, opening a 28-point benefit, earlier than wrapping up a cushty night time’s work at Accor Area.
Since ladies’s basketball made its debut on the 1976 Olympic Video games in Montreal, the USA have gained 9 of a attainable 12 gold medals.
Friday’s different semi-final will characteristic hosts France and Belgium after they beat Germany and Spain respectively.
Marine Johannes was key to France’s 84-71 victory, scoring a game-high 24 factors.
France gained silver at London 2012 and bronze at Tokyo 2020 and wish to full the set with Olympic gold on residence soil.
Belgium’s ladies made their Olympic debut in 2020, ending seventh, however are assured to be competing for a medal in Paris following a 79-66 win in opposition to Spain.
The 2 shedding nations in Friday’s semi-finals will head into the bronze medal match.