Nigeria's D'Tigress are aiming for a fourth Afrobasket title in a row, with Rena Wakama, the only woman coach in the tournament, leading the team.
Nigeria's National Women's Basketball team, D'Tigress have added Olympics history to their Afrobasket Championship feat under the watchful eyes of the brilliant Rena Wakama.
After leading the D'Tigress to an unprecedented win in the AFRO Basket 2023 edition in Rwanda, Wakama has now led the team to a shock win against number three-ranked Australia in Paris 2024.
As reported by Pulse Sports Nigeria, the African champions put on a show to see off the highly rated Aussies to put themselves in good place for the quarterfinal.
But what do you know about the talented Nigerian coach? Here are five things you should know about D'Tigress boss, Wakama.
1. USA born
The talented coach was born on April 11, 1992, in the United States of America, USA.
However, she is from Rivers State, in the South-South region of Nigeria. Wakama is just 32 years old.
2. History Maker
Following the dominant and brilliant win in Rwanda, Nigeria's coach, Wakama wrote her name in the Afrobasket and Nigeria's history books.
She started the competition as the only woman coach and has taken that feat a notch higher to become the first woman to lead an African team to the final of the Afrobasket in the men's and women's categories.
She also becomes the first female coach to guide the Nigerian women's basketball team to the final of the competition and to also win it.
3. Had little time to prepare for Rwanda
Wakama was named the head coach of the D'Tigress just one month before the start of the Afrobasket by the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF.
Wakama and the NBBF agreed to a two-year contract that will see her lead the team until the summer of 2025.
Wakama could be set for a longer stay if she manages to lead the D'Tigress to bigger achievements in Paris 2024.
4. A former player
The 32-year-old, known for her tactical acumen, was also a basketball player who stood out during her time in college in the United States of America.
She was a four-year letterwinner at the University of Western Carolina where she bagged a second-team southern conference all-tournament honours.
Wakama also played in the United Kingdom as stated by Pulse Sports Nigeria, however, while she did not play competitively for the D'Tigress, she was part of the team that prepared for the 2015 Afrobasket.
Wakama also represented First Bank at the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women and is currently an assistant at Stony Brook University.
5. One More History
When Nigeria's D'Tigress took on a wounded Senegal side, they were aware that their West African sisters had their eyes on revenge in the final in Rwanda. But they had their eyes firmly on the prize.
Wakama survived that battle, becoming the first female to win the Afrobasket. That is one piece of history that the graduate of therapeutic recreation and MBA holder from Manhattan College added to her CV.
Now, there is an update as she has become the coach to lead Nigeria to a first-ever win at the Olympics since 2000.
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