Rene Wakama, the head coach of Nigeria’s D’Tigress, has been named the best coach of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in recognition of the team’s outstanding performance.
The International Basketball Federation announced the award on its official X account on Sunday, August 11, 2024. D’Tigress entered the Olympics as the lowest-ranked team among the competitors.
Under Wakama’s leadership, Nigeria made history by reaching the quarter-finals, becoming the first African nation—men or women—to advance to the last eight in Olympic basketball. The team achieved this remarkable feat by defeating third-ranked Australia in their opening group stage match, although they later lost to France.
Nigeria also pulled off an impressive victory against another top-tier team, Canada. However, their journey ended in the quarter-finals when they were defeated by the United States with a score of 88-74.
Wakama, who became the first female head coach of D’Tigress when appointed in 2023, also led the team to their fourth consecutive FIBA Afrobasket Women’s Championship that same year. Her achievements underscore a significant milestone in Nigerian women’s basketball and highlight the progress being made in the sport.
Nigeria’s 🇳🇬 incredible run at #Olympics wasn’t going to go unnoticed.
Rena Wakama is the Best Coach of #Paris2024 Women’s Basketball. 🧠 pic.twitter.com/ekLRUgSfbr
— FIBA (@FIBA) August 11, 2024
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