Nigerian player says Aussie Liz Cambage ‘welcome’ to change allegiance

The controversial Aussie basketball star has hinted she wanted to switch allegiances to Nigeria despite an infamous and ugly brawl.

Controversial Aussie basketballer Liz Cambage would be welcomed into the team at the centre of her career implosion with the Opals, according to reports.

Cambage has not played for Australia since 2021 when she withdrew from the team just two weeks out from the Tokyo Olympics.

It came after wild scenes in a pre-Games practice match against Nigeria, the nation of her father’s birth, which ended in violence and claims of racist taunts.

Liz Cambage. Picture: Katharine Lotze/Getty Images

She has not played for Australia since 2021. Picture: Instagram /ecambage

Cambage was subbed out after hitting an opponent in the head but has denied racially abusing the Nigerian players, some of whom accused her of calling them “monkeys”.

“I don’t really lean towards racially backed insults,” she said in 2023.

“That’s not how I go.

“I’m very pro-Black. I did not say these things to these girls.”

Now, News Corp Australia reports one of Nigeria’s star players would “welcome” Cambage into the team as she continues her international wilderness.

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

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

Elizabeth Balogun (centre) playing against Canada during the Paris Olympic Games. Picture: Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP

The Australian centre has previously said she was trying to register to play for Nigeria but it was not greeted with enthusiasm from the country’s players at the time.

Melbourne-raised Cambage, 32, currently plays in China on a $1m per season deal after ending her successful stint in America’s WNBA.

Balogun is part of a Nigeria side that has made the quarter-finals at the Paris Olympics – the first African side, men or women, to do so.

She was on the court during that fateful game against Australia in 2021 and says it “put the fire in us” to push on to greater heights.

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

Cambage, 32, has taken up a lucrative contract in China and left the WNBA behind. Picture: Steph Chambers/Getty Images/AFP

Cambage was ejected from a game in China earlier this year after committing two flagrant fouls against opponents.

She then yelled in the face of an official, skipped down the baseline and bowed to the crowd before leaving the court.

ESPN’s Steve Smith wrote on X: “Liz Cambage ejected with two flagrant fouls in G2 of the WCBA Finals. That second one in particular was very bad. And then of course had to put on a show as she left. Clown behaviour.”