LILLE (France) - Nigeria produced one of the most defining moments in Olympic basketball history when they shredded every pre-tournament prediction and expectation to make it to the Quarter-Finals for the first time.
The size of their accomplishment is truly epic, off the charts and really is one of the all-time fairytale stories.
"I hope young girls are watching this. I wanted to be the first but I don't want to be the last - Wakama
No men's team has previously qualified for the last eight. Coming into this edition, African women's teams were 1-37 in the Games. It is only within this context that you step back and truly frame the enormity of what has just happened.
In a matter of days, they have won twice as many games as African teams had won in the previous near half a century.
"It's surreal and I don't think it's going to hit me yet for another couple of hours," confessed head coach Rene Wakama who has done a breathtaking job at the helm, with Nigeria having outlasted both Australia and Canada.
"I am proud of my girls and I have pushed them so hard. I have pushed them harder than anyone can even imagine. It's because I know what they can do and we did that today and we showed them who we are.
"Trust the process, keep fighting, keep pushing" - Wakama
"It's about every little detail and I make them start over [if not done right], I make them do everything right for these reasons. So, in crunch time and in pressure situations, we can execute when our backs are up against the wall."
The very mention of the record-breaking exploits and the significance of the victory for Africa as a whole and Wakama is left struggling to get her words out.
"I am going to get emotional. I mean, oh jeez - trust the process, keep fighting, keep pushing," smiled the play-caller.
"I have always been a fighter growing up. You tell me I can't do something and I am going to tell you that I can. "I hope young girls are watching his I wanted to be the first but I don't want to be the last. If we invest in Africa we are capable of doing really amazing things. We have to put some eyes on Africa and develop the game there and it starts with grassroots. it will make the game so much better."
There might have been some strange looks when she was talking about the podium after a big defeat to France when she was visibly angry about her team's performance. But, they have used that experience to unite and get back on track. "When we are focused on something and when we all come together, we are powerful. Our whole team, support staff, and coaches, we have the same mindset - a winning mindset. "I am glad we did have that loss because we were able to get back to what we do best. Also there's no pressure now on us and we have shown everyone that we deserve to be playing here," concluded Wakama.
FIBA