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School is a Scam, But It Taught us More Than We Expected
Rena Wakama Didn’t Just Win — She Changed the Game for Every Woman Who’s Ever Been Underrated
To the Person Who Feels Behind in Life — This Is for You
Feeling Behind in Life

Rena Wakama Didn’t Just Win — She Changed the Game for Every Woman Who’s Ever Been Underrated

Rena Wakama

When Rena Wakama was announced as head coach of D’Tigress in 2023, it wasn’t just a coaching job. It was a moment. A shift. A woman stepping into a space where very few looked like her — and daring to lead anyway.

She didn’t come from privilege. She didn’t have all the resources. She didn’t even have time on her side. But what she had was purpose. And sometimes, that’s more than enough.

Fast forward to 2025, and the results speak louder than any doubt that ever tried to whisper. Rena Wakama became the first woman in history to lead a team to back-to-back FIBA Women’s AfroBasket titles. The Nigerian women’s basketball team — D’Tigress — didn’t just win. They dominated. They extended their unbeaten AfroBasket run to 29 straight games. They bagged their fifth consecutive continental title. And they did it with Rena as the only female coach on the sidelines.

That’s not just winning. That’s rewriting the story of what women — African women — are capable of when given a chance.

But here’s the part that hits even deeper: they had only six training sessions before the tournament. Six. Other teams trained for months. Nigeria had less than a week. Still, they showed up. Still, they fought. Still, they believed.

This was a mental tournament,” Wakama said. “We chose not to complain. We stayed mentally strong.”

And that’s a life lesson for all of us.

There will always be people with more time, more money, more backing. But what you carry inside you — your fire, your discipline, your belief — can still outwork all of that. If you stop waiting for perfect conditions and start where you are, you’ll be surprised at what mountains you can move.

Rena Wakama

After the victory in Abidjan, the team didn’t just get applause. They got national honors, cash gifts, and housing from the federal government. But more importantly, they got something that can’t be bought — respect, legacy, and impact.

And Rena Wakama? She’s just getting started. From making Olympic history with Nigeria to being named FIBA Paris 2024 Best Coach, she’s proving that leadership isn’t about fitting into old molds. It’s about showing up fully as yourself and making space for others to rise too.

She once said, “We are always playing for something bigger than ourselves.” That mindset is everything. Because when you realize your purpose is tied to people — to legacy, to impact — you stop shrinking. You stop second-guessing. You step into rooms like you belong there… because you do.

So here’s the reminder we all need:
You don’t have to be the most popular.
You don’t have to have the perfect setup.
You just have to believe hard, show up boldly, and let your purpose speak.

Rena Wakama didn’t just win a tournament.
She reminded us that women who lead with fire, vision, and faith — change the game entirely.

And if she could do it against all odds, then maybe it’s time we stopped waiting for permission and started walking in power too.

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