As the curtain falls on the Paris 2024 Olympics, fans and teams worldwide can celebrate knowing the prestigious competition lived up to its expectations.
For Africa, history was made in basketball by Nigeria’s women’s team and South Sudan’s national team. Nigeria’s women’s team, in particular, reached the quarterfinals, becoming the first African nation—men’s or women’s—to achieve this in Olympic basketball.
This historic achievement by the West African country was largely due to the tactical brilliance of Rene Wakama, the youngest coach at the competition and one of the youngest in Olympic history. Her strategic decisions and tactical setup led Nigeria’s women’s basketball team to make history at the Games.
Here are five things to know about the 32-year-old who was named Best Women’s Coach at the 2024 Paris Olympics:
Holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Western Carolina University
Though Wakama is Nigerian with roots in Okrika, Rivers State, she was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, to parents Johnson Wakama and Rosana Oba. She pursued her education in the U.S., where she earned her degree while playing basketball at Western Carolina University, all the while harboring a dream of returning to Nigeria to make an impact.
Earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Manhattan College
Wakama also earned an MBA from Manhattan College, where she spent two years before officially taking on the role of head coach for Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, the D’Tigress. During her time at Manhattan, she served as director of women’s basketball operations and as a coaching assistant, nurturing talent while balancing her academic pursuits.
The First African Coach to Reach the Quarterfinals in Olympic Basketball
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Wakama became the first African coach to lead a team to the quarterfinals in Olympic basketball, where they were eventually eliminated by the reigning champions, the USA. She was also named the best coach of the women’s tournament, overcoming world heavyweights like Australia and Canada along the way.
The First Female Head Coach of Nigeria’s Women’s Basketball Team
In 2023, Wakama became the first female head coach of Nigeria’s women’s basketball team. Despite initial doubts about her ability to lead, Wakama has, in just 18 months, made history for both Nigeria and Africa.
Led Nigeria to Victory in the FIBA AfroBasket Women’s Tournament
Wakama also steered Nigeria to its sixth FIBA AfroBasket women’s title, the country’s first since 2021, marking four consecutive wins in the tournament.
Her passion for basketball and her dedication to her nation at the 2024 Paris Olympics have left many across the continent hopeful, knowing that a podium finish for African teams at the biggest stage of global sport is on the horizon.
