Coach Rena Wakama Reacts As Nigeria D'Tigress Bows Out On A High In Paris 2024 Women's Basketball.

Nigeria’s female basketball team D’Tigress bows out of the ongoing women's basketball Olympics tournament in Paris 2024 following their 74 – 88 loss in the quarterfinals to world number one USA.

The United States are through to the semi-final where they would face Australia.

D’Tigress went into the Olympics ranked number 12 in the world, the lowest in their group B which had Australia ranked no. 3, France ranked 7th, and Canada ranked 5th as at the time.

Nigeria defeated Australia 75-62 in their first group game, and then lost to host country France 75-54, before wrapping up with a 79-70 win against Canada.

Against the United States in the quarter-finals, D'Tigress team had a spectacular game in the 4th quarter, outscoring the US by (26-12) however it wasn’t enough to upset the deficit in the last three quarters, as they eventually lost by 14 points.

From the moment the game began, Coach Rena’s belief in her players never wavered. She had instilled in them a mindset that transcended the limitations others might see: “Impossibility is nothing, We’re here because we deserve to be here," This mantra echoed in every play, every pass, and every shot D’Tigress made on that fateful day.

Despite a final score of 88-74 in favor of the Americans, Coach Rena’s pride in her team’s performance was evident.

After the game, Rena addressed the media, her pride in her team shining through. “Impossibility is nothing,” she reiterated. “My girls gave their best, their passion, their love for the game showed tonight. We came in here with the mindset that nothing is impossible, and the world saw that display.” 

They’re leaving the tournament as the FIRST African team ever to reach the quarterfinals of basketball at the Olympics and are number 8 team in the current world rankings. 

It was a massive improvement by the Nigerians under the coaching of Rena Wakama who becomes the first coach to lead an African basketball team to two wins (against Australia and Canada) in a single Olympic Games and the first coach to lead an African team, male or female, to the quarter-finals of the tournament.

A reminder that Rena Wakama was appointed head coach of the Nigeria women's basketball team just 13 months ago (June 30, 2023), making her the first female in history to take on this role.

Coach Rena So far in one year:

-She picked up a D'Tigress team in disarray and won Nigeria's 4peat at the 2023 Afrobasket.

-She became the first female coach to win the Afrobasket title.

-She qualified in Nigeria for the Paris Olympics.

-She is the 1st Coach to Lead Nigeria in defeating a Top 3 rated team (Australia) at the Olympics.

-She is the 1st Coach to give D'Tigress a win for the first time in 20 years (since 2004)

-She's become the FIRST ever coach to lead an AFRICAN TEAM (male or female) to the Quarter Finals of the Olympics.

On the other hand, The pairings and schedule for the Women’s Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 Semi-Finals are now confirmed following the successful conclusion of the Quarter-Finals in Paris, France.

Australia are gunning for four wins in a row, They face a tough task against the USA in what is one of the great Olympic rivalries. Indeed, the Opals will play in the Semi-Finals for the sixth time, the last being at London 2012 when they faced and lost to the US.

Belgium are looking forward to playing in the Semi-Finals at the Olympics for the very first time and would face host France who are competing in the Semi-Finals for the fourth consecutive edition. Their win over Germany was their biggest ever margin of victory in the Quarter-Finals.