The head coach of Nigeria’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, Rena Wakama, has garnered more praise following the squad’s outstanding performance at the Olympic games in Paris.
The success of the D’Tigress in the 2024 Olympic Games has been credited to the coach’s independence from board members, according to Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) President Musa Kida.
According to Kida, the coach and the technical staff make the ultimate call on the team, even if board members can recommend players.
He praised coach Rena Wakama for her vision, dedication, and leadership, which played a crucial role in the team’s impressive performance.
“We are extremely proud of her dedication, commitment, and patience in trying to get the right thing done. It has not been easy,” Kida said in an interview with NTA
The D’Tigress were drawn against some of the highest-ranked teams in Group B at the Olympics but despite the odds, the team managed to overcome their fears and advance to the quarter-finals.
Kida expressed his admiration for the players and their ability to shock the world, referencing their previous success at the FIBA World Cup in 2018.
He said, “The responsibility is that we have tried to isolate other board members from influencing, board members can suggest, they can bring in names just like anybody else but the ultimate selection of the team is in the hands of the coach and the technical crew.”
“Coach Rena Wakama, we know that you did sacrifice a lot. We know that you had to tolerate and understand the Nigerian context of things and brought energy to the team, gave the girls a lot of confidence and showed leadership.”
Meanwhile, D’Tigress head coach Rena Wakama was named the best at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Nigeria’s opening-day victory over Australia, their first-ever victory in a Group phase match, made opponents sit up and take notice.
After suffering deat at the hands of France, Nigeria’s resilient defence served as the foundation for their victory against Canada.
They became the first African team in history men or women, to compete in the Olympic quarterfinals after this earned them a spot in the knockout round.
They were ultimately defeated by the USA, which put a stop to their campaign, but not before they had demonstrated their perseverance and abilities.
