Just over a year ago, in June 2023, Rena Wakama was appointed coach of the Nigerian women’s basketball team, thereby becoming the first ever female coach to hold this prestigious position. This appointment, which was seen as daring at the time, quickly bore fruit. With her in charge, Nigeria’s D’Tigress not only took part in the Olympic Games Paris 2024, but also made history in African sport by accomplishing unprecedented feats.
Wakama led her team to two historic victories at these Games, making her the first coach to lead an African basketball team to a double win in the same Olympic tournament. And that’s not all: she also coached the D’Tigress to a spot in the quarter-finals, an unprecedented achievement for an African team in either the men’s or women’s competition. This feat has shattered the glass ceiling that seemed to limit the ambitions of African teams on the world stage.
Rena Wakama embodies renewed hope for African basketball. Her ability to transcend expectations and inspire her players is a shining example of the untapped potential of African teams, which are often underestimated on the global stage. With her at the helm, Nigeria has not only asserted its place among the best women’s basketball teams, but has also opened the way for other African nations to believe in their ability to compete with the best.
In just over a year, Rena Wakama has redefined the meaning of leader in the world of sport. Her journey and her accomplishments at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will go down in the history of African basketball, and could well inspire a new generation of coaches and players to believe in their dreams.
