D’Tigress, Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, has made history today, Sunday, 4th August 2024, by reaching the first-ever Olympics quarterfinals.
D’Tigress defeated Canada 79-70 in their 3rd group stage match to reach the quarterfinals of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.
It was a scintillating performance from D’Tigress, especially for Ezinne Kalu, who emerged as the MVP of the match with 21 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals.
Their journey to the quarterfinals of the 2024 Paris Olympics started with a 75-62 over Australia before falling to host France 54-75, but the D’Tigress didn’t give up, beating Canada in the final group stage game 79-70.
The results also means, D’Tigress become the first African team (male or female) to reach the quarterfinals of Olympic basketball.
First ever African team (Men or Women) to play in #Olympics Quarter-Finals:
It's Nigeria!
#Paris2024 x #Basketball pic.twitter.com/pQCofpPXWq
— FIBA Basketball (@FIBA) August 4, 2024
How they did it:
Nigeria 75-62 Australia
Nigeria 54-75 France
Nigeria 79-70 Canada
About D’Tigress coach Rena Wakama
It has been a remarkable turnaround for 32-year-old Nigerian US returnee Rena Wakama, who has been the brain behind D’Tigress’s success since she took over the leadership of the team last year.
Within one year of being in charge, Wakama has become:
– The 1st Female Coach to win an Afrobasket title.
– The 1st Coach to Lead Nigeria in defeating a Top 3 rated team (Australia) at the Olympics.
– The 1st Coach to give D’Tigress a win for the first time in 20 years (since 2004)
Rena Wakama was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, to Johnson Wakama and Rosana Oba, who are natives of Okrika, Rivers State, Nigeria.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Western Carolina University and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Manhattan College.
She wasn’t born in Africa but the Africa in her brought her back to the continent. This is how to come back home to build Africa and African sports.