Former Opal Liz Cambage plots switch to Nigerian national team

Liz Cambage says she is in talks to join the Nigerian national team, despite not being eligible to play for the side - and members of D’Tigress are not impressed.

Liz Cambage says she is in talks to join the Nigerian national team, but she isn’t even eligible to play for the African nation.

Two years after her physical and verbal altercation with players from Nigeria, Cambage spoke to the Bleacher Report to deny previous reports that she told the Nigerians to “go back to their third world country” while calling them “monkeys” during a scrimmage in the lead up to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

The four-time WNBA All-Star also confirmed she is filing to leave the Australian team to play for Nigeria.

However, CODE Sports has been told Basketball Australia is yet to receive release paperwork for Cambage.

Under the rules, Nigeria must request the centre’s release through FIBA before BA sign off on any exit.

Until then, the former WNBA star is ineligible to suit up for Nigeria unless Basketball Australia gives the green light.

Opals coach Sandy Brondello says Cambage won’t be selected for Australia because she refuses to buy into the culture. Picture: Supplied

Code Sports contacted Basketball Australia on Tuesday and the organisation confirmed it was yet to hear from any Nigerian officials regarding a potential Cambage release.

It comes as the contentious centre’s claims were brutally shut down by Nigerian guards Promise Amukamara and Sarah Ogoke.

“I’m sorry but this is false. Lol,” Amukamara tweeted in response to Cambage’s video interview with the Bleacher Report.

She called us Monkeys & told us to go back to our country. Yes she said that!

— Promise Amukamara, OLY (@iPromisee) August 7, 2023

“She called us Monkeys and told us to go back to our country. Yes she said that.

“Literally everyone from both teams have the same story BUT her, so y’all do the math and the only person she has been in “cahoots” with was the former coach of our National team and he’s no longer the coach, so there’s that.”

Another Nigerian player has confirmed Cambage’s foul-mouthed rant in the scrimmage before the Tokyo Olympics, with Ogoke also taking to Twitter.

“We are not recruiting you and you definitely spewed racist profanities against us during our scrimmage,” Ogoke said.

Cambage, though, continues to plead her innocence.

Quizzed as to why her account of the altercation differs to those of others, Cambage claimed: “Because the truth looks a lot worse for other organisations involved, than using me as a scapegoat.”

Liz Cambage has been shut out by the Opals. Picture: Getty

Opals coach Sandy Brondello recently slammed the door shut on the controversial centre donning the green and gold again.

Brondello made it clear that the former WNBA star won’t be selected.

Cambage, though, says she is in discussions to play for Nigeria despite players repeating their claims she had verbally abused them.

“Why does Nigeria want me to leave Australia and go and represent them?” she said.

“We’re filing for me to leave the Australian team, so I can represent Nigeria.

“I’ve been in cahoots, I’ve been talking to them since all of this happened.

“This is what I mean, people don’t know the truth.”

Australian Boomers and NBA great Andrew Bogut has long maintained that Cambage behaved poorly during the closed scrimmage against the Nigerians in the lead-up to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Bogut received criticism online for calling out her verbal and physical attacks on the African national team.

The Golden State Warriors championship winner told Code Sports he now feels vindicated following the recent revelations.

“I was right all along,” said Bogut, who pointed out the online trolls have now gone quiet.

Originally published as Former Opal Liz Cambage plots switch to Nigerian national team