Australian basketball star Liz Cambage allegedly called the Nigerian players “monkeys” in the pre-Games training match which led to her disorderly departure from the national team program.
Anonymous Nigerian players alleged that Cambage had called them “monkeys” in a heated verbal and physical toughness at last July’s warm-up match that was finally abandoned.
Tensions erupted when Cambage elbowed Nigerian power plant Victoria Macaulay so hard that it left a crack in his neck.
It provoked physical retaliation, which saw Cambage verbally unleashed.
“That’s what I remember, the term monkeys, yes. And back where you come from, “a Nigerian player told News Corp.
“He definitely used monkeys or monkeys.”
Another Nigerian player said: “She said ‘control your monkey’ or something.”
Cambage was independently investigated and issued a formal reprimand, but not suspended or fined, after the training party altercation derailed the Tokyo Opal Olympics campaign.
The report also alleged before the match that Cambage, whose father is Nigerian, had told one of the Nigerian players that he would like to play with them because his Australian teammates were racist.
Cambage apologized to the Nigerian players for their actions the following night, receiving a mixed response.
The report comes three weeks after the great Opals retreat, Jenna O’Hea, confirmed to the ABC allegations that Cambage had told Nigerian players to “return to your third world country”.
In the days following the clash in Nigeria, Cambage withdrew from the Games due to mental health issues.
Despite being available for selection for this year’s World Cup in Sydney, Cambage said he would never play for the Opals again.
Cambage, who now plays for the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, told ABC: “I’m living my best life. I’m supported, I’m protected to a level that the Opals or the Australian national team never gave me.
“My heart is with those who want to protect me and those who want me to be the best I can be, and I’ve never felt that in Opals. So yeah, I’m fine.”