President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Ms. Rena Wakama, D’Tigress’ coach, on her recognition as the best coach of women’s basketball at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The head coach of Nigeria’s senior Women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, Rena Wakama has been awarded the Best Female Basket Coach of the Tournament at the Olympics Paris in France.
The Female Basketball team, D’Tigress under the Leadership of their coach Wakama made history by becoming the first African Basketball team to reach the quarter-finals at the Olympic Games this year.
The D’Tigress team made history as the only African basketball team (men and women) to progress to the last 16 at the event.
The president's spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, stated that Mr. President believes that recognizing the award winner by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) further highlights her exceptional leadership qualities and commitment to excellence.
The president commended the coach, her team, alongside those who played distinct roles at the Olympics. He encouraged them not to relent or become discouraged but to persevere in their pursuit of greatness.
President Tinubu emphasised the importance of discipline, sacrifice, and sportsmanship in competitions. He mentioned that although winning trophies and medals are important, the values displayed by the Nigerian team at the Olympics 2024 are noteworthy.
Coach Wakama is the first coach to lead Nigeria to victory against a top-ranked contingent (Australia) at the Olympics in their first Group match with a 75-62 win, where the team recorded its first win in 20 years in Lille, France.
In their second game at the Olympics 2024 against the host France, the Nigerian Contingent lost 75-54.
Before Wakama emerged as Nigeria’s D’Tigress coach, the African Women's basketball team had a total of only 1 win over 37 games in the Olympics.
The 32-year-old Basketball Coach is a former Nigerian Professional basketball player. Wakama became the coach of the D’Tigress in June 2023 on a two-year contract with her target for the team in place. She is the first female coach to win an Afrobasket title in Kigali, Rwanda.
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