In a historic achievement, Rene Wakama, head coach of Nigeria’s D’Tigress, has been recognized as the FIBA Best Women’s Basketball Coach of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Wakama led Nigeria to a groundbreaking quarter-final finish, marking the first time an African nation has reached the last eight in Olympic basketball history.

Under Wakama’s leadership, D’Tigress achieved remarkable victories, including an upset win over Australia and a thrilling triumph against Canada, securing their spot in the quarter-finals.

Although they ultimately fell to the United States, Wakama’s team demonstrated impressive resilience against the world’s top-ranked team.

Wakama’s exceptional coaching and transformation of D’Tigress earned her this prestigious award, surpassing notable coaches Cheryl Reeve (USA) and Jean-Aimé Toupane (France).

As the first female head coach of D’Tigress, Wakama has made a lasting impact, guiding the team to their fourth consecutive FIBA Afrobasket Women’s Championship in 2023.