The Nigeria Basketball Federation has appointed Rena Wakama as head coach of the country’s senior women’s basketball team D’Tigress on a two-year contract.

Wakama, a former D’Tigress star currently serves as an assistant coach at Stony Brooks University, in New York. She has held the position for the last four years. She had previously served two years as director of women’s basketball operations in the same University. 


An explosive point guard during her hay days, Wakama played High School Wake Forest Rolesville High School where she averaged 14.9 points, 2.9 assists, 3.2 rebounds per game, and 2.5 steals per game.


The NBBF confirmed the appointment of Wakama in a statement on Friday. “The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has  Engaged Coach Rena Wakama as Head Coach for the Team Nigeria Women’s basketball team, for two years. Coach Rena Wakama was a former Nigerian National team player, and currently an  Assistant Coach at Stony Brooks University, as Head Coach. 

“Wakama was a 4 year letterman at the University of Western Carolina and played professional basketball in the United Kingdom, in addition to playing for the Senior Nigerian National Team. 

“Wakama received a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation from Western Carolina in 2014 and an MBA from Manhattan in 2019. She is an indigene of the Rivers State of Nigeria.”

The appointment means Wakama will lead D’Tigress to the forthcoming 2023 FIBA Africa Women Afrobasket belied to hold in Kigali, Rwanda from July 26 to August 6.