- Cambage was blacklisted by the Opals due to alleged racist comments
- I recently accepted a lucrative contract in China for a huge amount of money.
- He could return to international basketball with an unlikely nation
Exiled Australian basketball player Liz Cambage has been given a lifeline to return to international basketball – but instead of hailing from the Opals, it has come from the country whose stars she was accused of swearing at in a racist outburst.
One of the biggest stars playing for Nigeria, the team at the centre of the racism scandal that saw Cambage blacklisted by Australia’s Opals ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, has revealed she would be open to having the controversial centre in her squad in the future.
Cambage made headlines around the world in 2021 after allegedly causing a physical altercation and calling Nigerian players “monkeys”.
Now, surprisingly, she is being welcomed to join the D’Tigresa.
Nigerian basketball star Elizabeth Balogun has expressed her willingness to forgive and welcome Cambage back into her national team despite the resentment generated by the incident.
Cambage had reignited tensions more than a year ago by claiming that Nigerians wanted him to play for his father’s native country, a statement refuted by star guard Promise Amukamara on social media.
Despite the controversy, Balogun now says she is open to the idea of Cambage joining the Nigerian team.
“If she (Liz) wants to play, she’s welcome to the family,” Balogun said.
‘We accept all native Nigerians on the team, so she is totally welcome.’
This comes after Cambage posted a glimpse of his return to training on Instagram.
Cambage has been offered the chance to represent Paris Olympic quarter-finalist Nigeria in the future despite the racism scandal embroiling the nation.
Cambage, second from left, has been banned by the Opals from representing Australia.
Cambage, 32, has been kicked out of the Australian national team but continues to play basketball professionally. This year, she completed a lucrative three-month stint with the Chinese women’s team Sichuan Yuanda in Chengdu.
However, Australian fans have not forgotten or forgiven Cambage for his alleged racist comments towards Nigerian opponents following the African nation’s shock victory against the Opals at the Olympics.
“Nigeria’s win over Australia in the WBB is sweet revenge,” one person tweeted.
“It’s good for them, especially after everything they’ve been through and all the shit Liz Cambage did.”
Another wrote: ‘Do you all remember when Liz Cambage called a Nigerian player a monkey when she was playing for Australia?’
“This is wonderful karma/revenge for the Liz Cambage incident,” another tweet read.
“I know Liz Cambage is mad somewhere,” was another tweet that rubbed salt in the wound.
The 32-year-old has returned to training and is seeking a new contract after a brief spell in China.
Nigeria and Australia have both escaped the group stage at the Paris Olympics and could meet again in the gold medal match if they make it that far.
Australia is still in the American side of the draw but won’t face that giant until the semi-finals if it beats the world No. 10 Serb.
The United States has not lost an Olympic game since 1992 and is currently on a 58-game winning streak.
The Opals have medaled at four consecutive Games but failed to reach the semi-finals at the last two editions, where they were beaten in the quarter-finals by the United States and ended a disappointing campaign in Tokyo.