Nigeria’s D’Tigress head coach, Rena Wakama, has shared insights into how her team managed to secure a stunning 75-62 victory over the highly ranked Australian team in their opening game of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The African champions surprised the basketball world with their impressive performance against Australia, who are ranked third globally. The win has been described as one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far.
Wakama expressed her pride and excitement following the match. “I have a wave of emotions. I am so proud and excited for this group. I’ve got a lot of girls that are hungry and shocked the world,” she said.
The coach attributed the victory to the team’s resilience and determination. “We are tough. It’s in our DNA, it’s who we are – we don’t back down and I just want to bring a lot of energy and passion,” Wakama added.
The D’Tigress will next face Canada in their second group game before concluding the group stage with a match against the host nation, France. The team’s performance against Australia has raised hopes and expectations for their upcoming matches.
AUSTRALIA’S ALANNA SMITH REACTS TO THE LOSS
” We turned the ball over way too much and we were not ready to step up to the physicality of the game.
” Turning the ball over though was the crux of the game”, she said.
