- Basketball fans are quick to take advantage of the Opals’ loss
- Liz Cambage banned for alleged racial slurs
- It was trending on X when Opals lost to Nigeria
Sports fans were quick to show they have not forgotten or forgiven former Australian basketball star Liz Cambage for her alleged racist comments to Nigerian opponents after the African nation pulled off an upset against the Opals.
Australia’s women’s Olympic campaign got off to a shaky start in Paris after the third-ranked Opals suffered a shock 75-62 defeat to Nigeria in their opening group game on Monday.
Many on X were quick to criticise Cambage, who allegedly called Nigerian players “monkeys” during a heated friendly match in 2021 in the run-up to the Tokyo Games.
Cambage, 32, has been banned from the Australian national team but still plays basketball professionally, having completed a lucrative three-month stint this year playing for the Chinese women’s team Sichuan Yuanda, based in Chengdu.
Cambage was trending on X shortly after the loss, despite having played his last game with the Opals three years ago.
“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?’
Basketball fans were quick to criticise former Australian basketball player Liz Cambage for her alleged racist comments made towards Nigerian players after the Opals lost their Olympic opener to the country.
“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.
“I hope Liz Cambage is having a terrible day,” wrote another X user.
“And FUCK LIZ CAMBAGE” was another forceful comment.
Cambage sensationally walked away from the Opals in the run-up to the Tokyo Games in 2021, despite denying she called Nigerian players “monkeys” or said “go back to your own third world country” in the heated warm-up game.
The strike had a destabilising effect on the Opals, a team that had won a medal at the previous five consecutive Games but was eliminated in the quarter-finals in Tokyo.
Cambage also received a formal reprimand from Basketball Australia following an investigation.
In 2022, former Opals captain Jenna O’Hea said the allegations against Cambage were “100 per cent” true.
Social media users were quick to criticise Cambage after Nigeria pulled off a shock win against the Opals.
Some X users were more forceful in their comments directed at Cambage for his alleged comments.
Opals coach Sandy Brondello later said Cambage would not be considered for selection again because she is “too much work.”
“On the Opals show, you have to adapt to the culture that we had. Liz did some great things for the Opals, but it was just too much hard work towards the end and we don’t need that,” Brondello said.
“We have little time together and one player cannot lead the team.”
Cambage responded to her ban from the team by accusing Opals coaches and players of making racist and “inappropriate” comments toward her while continuing to deny she made the racist remarks attributed to her.
Elizabeth Balogun and Adebola Adeyeye of Team Nigeria celebrate victory over the Opals at their opening Olympic Games
The Opals’ opening loss on Monday in Lille’s Stade Pierre Mauroy leaves them in a dangerous position to advance from the group stage.
Despite starting the game strong against the D’Tigresses, the Opals wilted, especially in the second and fourth quarters.
Nigeria’s Ezinne Kalu took control and led her 12th-placed team to a convincing victory over third-placed Australia.
In the first half alone, Australia had 16 turnovers to Nigeria’s eight.
The Opals will face world number 5 Canada in their next Pool B match on Thursday before a clash against hosts France, winners of the bronze medal in Tokyo, next Monday.
Australia need to finish in the top two of their group to reach the quarter-finals.