August 11, (THEWILL) – Rena Wakama, the 32-year-old coach of Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, has been named “Best Coach” at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Wakama guided D’Tigress to several historic achievements, including their first-ever Olympic quarter-final appearance.
Under Wakama’s leadership, Nigeria opened their campaign with a stunning victory over third-ranked Australia, marking their first Olympic basketball win. They followed this with another upset against fifth-ranked Canada, becoming the first African team to secure two wins at the Games.
The team’s success extended beyond group stages, as they became the first African basketball team, male or female, to reach the Olympic quarter-finals. Although their run ended with a loss to the United States, D’Tigress fought hard until the final whistle.
FIBA praised Wakama’s D’Tigress for delivering “the most impactful performance by an African team in history” at the Olympic basketball competitions. The international governing body also credited Wakama’s leadership as a key factor in Nigeria’s unprecedented success.
Wakama, who is one of the youngest coaches in Olympic history, has set a new standard for Nigerian and African basketball. Her achievements have put African basketball on the global map and inspired a new generation of players and coaches.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
