Nigeria’s Rena Wakama named best basketball coach at Paris Olympics

Rena Wakama, the first Nigerian female basketball coach, has been named the ‘best coach’ at this year’s Olympics after guiding D’Tigress to historical achievements in Paris.

The 32-year-old was recognised by FIBA and the Olympic organisers for leading D’Tigress to the tournament quarter-finals for the first time in its history.

Nigeria won her first basketball match in the Olympics under the former college basketball player’s tutelage.

D’Tigress opened their Olympics campaign by defeating third-ranked Australia in a major upset. The North Carolina-born coach also led her team to a shock win over fifth-ranked Canada in the final group game to seal a maiden appearance in the knockout stage.

It was the first time an African country would make the last eight of the Olympic basketball tournament — male or female.

Nigeria eventually succumbed to the United States in the quarter-finals.

In a blog post on Sunday, FIBA praised Wakama’s D’Tigress for putting up the “most impactful performance by an African team in history” at the Olympic basketball competitions.

It also described the leadership of Wakama as one of the “main drivers of Nigeria’s unprecedented success” at the tournament.

“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,” the post reads.

“A few days later and Nigeria stunned Canada to become the first African team to take two wins at the Games, once again their tenacious defense 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 were beaten by USA, but even then they showed their fighting spirit and qualities until the very end.”

FIBA also described Wakama as “one of the youngest coaches in Olympic history who delivered a new high tide mark for Nigeria and African basketball”.

Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, US, she was appointed coach of the Nigerian women’s basketball team in June 2023.

In August 2023, the Wakama-led ladies defeated Senegal 84-74 in the final of the women’s Afrobasket championship.

The victory placed Nigeria as the second African country to win the women’s Afrobasket title four times in a row.