Ezinna Kalu scored 21 points as Nigeria made Olympic history by becoming the first African team, male or female, to reach the Olympic quarterfinals in basketball, defeating Canada 79-70 on Sunday.

The Nigerians (2-1) now await their next opponent. This victory has already doubled the number of wins in pool play for a country that came to France seeking its first Olympic victory since the 2004 Athens Games.

The team celebrated their historic win at midcourt, with an assistant coach capturing the moment on her phone. After high-fiving the Canadians, the Nigerians gathered for a midcourt huddle, soaking in their achievement.

An assistant coach grabbed a flag from a fan, and the team took their time posing for photos and hugging each other, savouring the victory.

Canada, ranked fifth in the world, leaves winless in three games, eliminated on the final day of group play for women’s basketball by a team ranked 12th.

Five countries had already secured quarterfinal berths: the U.S., Spain, Serbia, France, and Germany. The draw for the quarterfinals will follow the final game between Australia and host nation France.

Nigeria had failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games and went winless in Tokyo. This women’s team was even denied access to Nigeria’s boat for the opening ceremony on July 26. Now, they will play on Wednesday in Bercy Arena on the banks of the Seine River.

Nigeria scored the first six points of the game. Captain Amy Okonkwo hurt her right shoulder early in the second quarter, colliding with Canada forward Aaliyah Edwards while diving for a loose ball. Canada led 41-37 at halftime.

Okonkwo returned for the third quarter, during which Nigeria opened with a 13-1 run. The Nigerians outscored Canada 23-5 in the third quarter, taking a 60-46 lead into the fourth.

Elizabeth Balogun added 14 points for Nigeria, and Promise Amukamara had 12.

Shay Colley led Canada with 17 points, Bridget Carleton added 13, and Kayla Alexander scored 12.