Liz Cambage was banned from playing for Australia at the Olympics – now she could get a lifeline to return to the Games from the most unlikely country imaginable
Exiled Australian basketballer Liz Cambage has been handed a lifeline to return to international basketball, but instead of coming from the Opals it has come from the country whose stars she was accused of insulting 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 the Australian Opals ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, has revealed she would be willing to have the controversial centre in their squad in the future.
Cambage made headlines worldwide in 2021 after allegedly sparking a physical altercation and calling Nigerian players ‘monkeys.’
Now, astonishingly, she is being welcomed to join the D’Tigress.
Nigerian basketball star guard Elizabeth Balogun has expressed her willingness to forgive and welcome Cambage into her national team despite the bad blood from the incident.
Cambage had reignited tensions over a year ago by claiming that the Nigerians wanted her to play for her 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 squad.
‘If she [Liz] wants to play she is welcome to the family,’ Balogun said.
‘We accept all Nigerian natives on the team, so she is totally welcome.’
It comes as Cambage has posted vision of her returning to training on Instagram.
Cambage has been offered the chance to represent Paris Olympics quarter finalists Nigeria in the future despite a racism scandal involving the nation
Cambage, second from left, has been banned from representing Australia by the Opals
Cambage, 32, has been banned from the Australian national team but continues to play basketball professionally. This year, she completed a lucrative three-month stint with the Chinese Sichuan Yuanda women’s team in Chengdu.
However, Australian fans have not forgotten or forgiven Cambage for her alleged racist remarks toward Nigerian opponents following the African nation’s upset victory against the Opals at the Olympics.
‘Nigeria beating Australia in WBB is sweet revenge,’ one person tweeted.
‘Good for them especially after everything they’ve been through and the s**t that Liz Cambage pulled.’
Another wrote: ‘Y’all remember when Liz Cambage called a Nigerian player a monkey when playing for Australia?’
‘This is wonderful karma/payback from the Liz Cambage incident,’ another tweet read.
‘I know Liz Cambage is somewhere fuming,’ was another tweet rubbing salt into the wounds.
The 32-year-old is back in training and looking for a new contract after a brief stint in China
Nigeria and Australia both escaped the pool stage of the Paris Olympics and could clash again in the gold medal match if they make it that far.
Australia were still drawn on the US side of the bracket, but will not face that juggernaut until the semi-finals should they beat the world No.10 Serbians.
The US haven’t lost an Olympic game since 1992, currently riding a 58-game winning streak.
The Opals medalled in four straight Games but have missed the semi-finals in the last two editions, thumped in a quarter-final by the US to end an underwhelming Tokyo campaign.
