Paris 2024: FIBA names D’Tigress’ Rena Wakama Best Women’s Basketball Coach

The Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) has named D’Tigress’ Rena Wakama the best coach of the Paris 2024 Olympics Women’s Basketball tournament.

FIBA picked Wakama for leading D’Tigress to a historic quarter-final finish at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

“One of the youngest coaches in Olympic history, Rene Wakama delivered a new high tide mark for Nigeria and for African basketball,” FIBA wrote.

READ ALSO: Tomato, pepper prices fall in Lagos

“It was the most impactful performance by an African team in history at the Olympic Basketball Tournaments, and one of the main drivers of Nigeria’s unprecedented success was the leadership of play-caller Rena Wakama.”

“Just 32 years old, Wakama has been deservedly crowned Best Coach after guiding D’Tigress to an array of historical achievements in Paris. Nigeria made everyone sit up and take notice by beating Australia on opening day, and that was the first time they had won a Group phase game.”

A few days later, Nigeria stunned Canada to become the first African team to take two wins at the Games, once again with their tenacious defence providing the platform for success.

Even more impressive, this secured them a ticket to the knockout phase, and they became the first African team in history, men or women, to play in the Olympic quarter-finals.

Their campaign eventually came to a close when they lost 88-74 to the United States, but even then, they showed their fighting spirit and qualities until the very end.