US based Nigerian Rena Wakama, made history with the Nigerian Women’s National Basketball Team as she led them to their first ever Olympic Games quarterfinals.
Nigeria succumbed to the great might of the United States Women’s National Basketball Team on Wednesday in Paris as their fairytale run came to an end against a worthy opponent.
Wakama, 32, ascended to the top position as head coach of the team in June 2023. A former national team player herself, she has managed to transform the team that the previous head coach, Oderah Chidom, once referred as having a “level of professionalism just not up to par with the constant production” produced during her tenure.
A tryout held to scout new players following her appointment saw a number of the old experienced players retiring from the team, but she managed to keep the nucleus of the remaining team, fine tuning the technical side of their game.
From their historic first win against Australia to another historic victory against Canada, D’Tigress earned Africa’s first ever qualification for the quarterfinals.
