Ahead of Nigeria’s Olympic Games quarter-final clash against Team USA, Rivers United head coach Ogoh Odaudu has cautioned D’Tigress, on raising their levels of game management.

Odaudu praised D’Tigress’ impressive performances, which have seen the team reach the quarter-finals of the Olympic basketball event.

He encouraged the team to keep working hard, and enthused that Nigeria was capable of causing more upsets in the competition.

“No doubt the girls have been very, very impressive. We’ve made history for the first time. Any African team is going to the quarter-finals,” Odaudu said.

Rivers Hoopers head coach, Ogoh Odaudu. Photo | X (Rivers Hoopers)

He added, “You could tell from the first game against Australia that they meant business. The coach has put together a really fantastic team. And they’ve really done all she asked them to do.”

Odaudu pointed out the team’s struggle with pressure in their loss to France.

“You could tell in the game that they lost against France, that even though they like putting a lot of pressure on people, they don’t like being pressured.

“So it’s something that the coach has to work on going into the quarter-finals because a lot of teams are going to scout them and they notice that we don’t have too many good ball handlers on the team. Once you cut out Ezinne and you cut out Promise, then there’s trouble on the team.”

Nigeria’s Ezinne Kalu dribbles the ball. (Photo by SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images)

“So they have to work on something that will free up the two of them or just make sure that they advance the ball comfortably. They have done really, really well. Nobody expected that they were going to be here.

“All in all, we are proud. They have made us proud as Nigerians and we are going to be solidly behind them, win or lose, in the next game,” he concluded.

D’Tigress will face the defending champions, Team USA on Wednesday to secure a spot in the semi-finals.