Nigeria’s Favorite Female Basketball Coach Speaks After Defeat To US (Video)

Nigeria’s favorite female basketball coach, Rena Wakama, has reacted after Nigeria’s D’Tigress suffered a 74-88 quarter-final defeat to the U.S. women’s basketball team at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Wednesday night.

D’Tigress earlier who made physical play a trademark, looked anything but intimidated by the powerhouse Americans as they traded buckets in the opening minutes.

Two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player A’Ja Wilson scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to pace a US side that could break a tie with the US men’s basketball team for the most consecutive Olympic golds — set from 1936-68.

Jackie Young added 15 points and Breanna Stewart — another two-time WNBA MVP chipped in 13.

Coach Wakama, while speaking in an interview after the match expressed optimism about the team given proper support.

She said, “The future is bright, but we’ve got to invest in us. We’ve got to give these girls the resources and the support for them to be able to get to the podium and get a medal. 

“We’re capable of it. We have the talent. Everyone on the team is Nigerian. We didn’t have to go get anybody from outside like other teams. We’re all Nigerian, born and raised. But we have to invest in the future and invest in sports.”

Watch video below 👇

Beautiful Coah Wakama became a sensation on social media after she led the team to the first ever quarter final Olympic appearance by either male or female African team.

She had earlier led the D’Tigress to defeat Australia and Canada in an impression feat before they met with the U.S. at the quarter finals.

Many Nigerians took to their social media handles to encourage Coach Wakama and her team while wishing for future victories, with proper preparation and support.

Achievements of 32-year-old Coach Wakama are:

– 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 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.

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