Rene Wakama, head coach of Nigeria's D’Tigress, has been named FIBA Best Women’s Basketball Coach of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her leadership led Nigeria to a historic quarter-final finish, marking the first African team to reach the final eight in Olympic basketball. Wakama's achievement highlights her exceptional coaching skills.
Rene Wakama, head coach of Nigeria's D’Tigress, has been honored as the FIBA Best Women’s Basketball Coach of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Wakama, who assumed her role in 2023, led the Nigerian team to a groundbreaking quarter-final finish, marking the first time an African nation reached the final eight in Olympic basketball history.
At just 32 years old, Wakama made a significant impact in Paris, starting with a notable victory over the third-ranked Australian team in the group stage. Despite a loss to France, her leadership saw Nigeria achieve an unexpected triumph over Canada, securing their historic advancement to the quarter-finals. Although Nigeria was ultimately defeated by the United States in the quarter-finals, the team’s performance demonstrated their resilience against the top-ranked global team, ending with a score of 88-74.
Wakama’s success with D’Tigress, which included a fourth consecutive FIBA Afrobasket Women’s Championship in 2023, earned her the prestigious title, surpassing other nominees like Cheryl Reeve of the U.S., who led her team to gold, and Jean-Aimé Toupane of France, who guided his team to silver. This recognition highlights Wakama's exceptional coaching prowess and the impressive growth of Nigerian women’s basketball on the international stage
