Nigerian star Elizabeth Balogun says Liz Cambage is welcome to national basketball team

Aussie Liz Cambage created global headlines when she sparked a physical altercation and allegedly called Nigerian players ‘monkeys’ in 2021. Now, remarkably, she’s welcome to join the D’Tigress.

Nigerian basketball star guard Elizabeth Balogun says she would be happy to forgive and forget and “welcome” controversial Australian Liz Cambage into their national team.

Cambage created global headlines after she sparked a physical altercation and allegedly called the Nigerian players “monkeys” during a fiery closed door practice game in Las Vegas prior to the 2021 Tokyo Games.

Cambage reignited tensions over a year ago when she declared the Nigerians wanted her to play for her father’s native country before star guard Promise Amukamara took to social media to say: “I’m sorry but this is false”.

Balogun now says she is prepared to move on saying she wouldn’t be opposed to Cambage playing for their national team.

Liz Cambage could make a shock move to the Nigerian national basketball team. Picture: Getty Images

“If she (Liz) wants to play she is welcome to the family,” Balogun said.

The Nigerians defeated Canada to become the first African side (men or women) to qualify for the Olympic quarter-finals.

“We accept all Nigerian natives on the team, so she is totally welcome.”

The Las Vegas incident was one of the darkest chapters in Opals history.

Cambage, whose father is Nigerian, also allegedly told the D’Tigress players to go back to their third world country when tensions exploded after she deliberately elbowed an opposition player during the scrimmage.

After a time out Cambage returned to the game in an agitated state an tensions escalated when she became entangled with another Nigerian player and hit her in the face.

Cambage was subbed out of the game and as she walked to the bench, the aggrieved Nigerian player rushed over and king hit her which then allegedly resulted in a tirade of racial abuse directed at the D’Tigess team.

In days following the incident Cambage walked out on the Opals which left their Olympic campaign in tatters.

Cambage (R) at the 2016 Olympics. Picture: Getty Images

Cambage maintains she didn’t racially abuse her rivals despite multiple D’Tigress players taking to social media to say the ex-Australian national star called them “monkeys”.

Balogun confirmed she was on the floor during the chaotic private scrimmage in Vegas

She said it took time for the Nigerian program to recover from the dramatic moment, but upon reflection she said the unfortunate incident has only made the Africans stronger.

“I was part of it (the scrimmage) and I was in the game when it happened,” she said.

“We just had to move past that and continue to strive. Now look at us, we’re in this moment.

“But yeah, that (scrimmage) put the fire in us. Like OK, everyone is trying to fight us on the court but guess what we’re going to do the right thing and we’re going to stick together as a team.”

Cambage has turned her back on Australia and the WNBA but has resurrected her troubled career in China.

The 32-year-old recently re-signed with Sichuan Yuanda in China for reportedly $1 million, which is more than any WNBA player.

Elizabeth Balogun has helped Nigeria push into the quarter-finals. Picture: Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP)

After advancing to the quarter-finals in Paris a joyous Nigeria team celebrated on the court in Lille for at least 10 minutes.

Balogun couldn’t be prouder of how far the program has come.

“We’ve been dreaming about this moment and now the moment is here and we’re all soaking it in and just enjoying the moment,” she said.

“I feel great.

“This program has been through a lot and we’re still striving and fighting.

“We’re just showing the world that it doesn’t matter where you are from, Africa or European, we can compete.

“It has been a long road and we’re still going.”

Originally published as Nigerian star Elizabeth Balogun says Liz Cambage is welcome to national basketball team