LAGOS (Nigeria) - FIBA Women's AfroBasket reigning champions Nigeria have recently enjoyed rave reviews thanks to their excellent run in Africa and the world.

One constant face in all the success stories is that of Shola Ogunade Shomala, who captained the national team to their first-ever African Championship title back in 2003.

Now, an assistant coach with Nigeria, Shomala recalls: "That experience is something I cannot forget in a hurry. I am privileged to have been part of the history made. Nigeria featured a very disciplined and focused team that year. It was a memorable year indeed."

Despite Shomala's outstanding performance for Nigeria at the 2003 edition of the African Championship, she was not part of the squad that represented Africa at the Athens Olympics 2004.

Sam Vincent coached Nigeria at the Athens Olympics 2004

But as a true leader, she says that: "Sometimes we don't always get what we want. Things don't always happen the way we want it. I was disappointed and at the same time fulfilled with the performance of my teammates."

As an assistant to head coach Otis Hughley, Shomala says with pride that she is not done yet until more women take up the challenge of coaching around Africa.

"After the experience of 2004, I thought the best thing to do was to contribute to the development of the game in my own little way. I had the urge in me to help motivate and to also impact my gained experience in helping female players to actualize their dreams," she said.

"So I did some courses in coaching and got appointed as an assistant coach with First Bank of Nigeria basketball club, which is the same team I played for under coaches Ganiyu Otenigbagbe and Adewumi Aderemi."

Shola Ogunade Shomala (4) is seen during All Africa Games 2003 in Abuja

While with First Bank, Shomala attended the FIBA module 1 and 2 coaching courses and got a FIBA coaching license.

Her baptism of fire as a coach came with a national assignment in 2005 when Nigeria hosted the FIBA Women's AfroBasket. 

Speaking on her choice for coaching, Shomala reveals that coaching to her is passion. "It is what I love to do and find joy in doing it. I work more with kids because I believe their basketball career should be built on a solid foundation."

She believes that the challenges women coaches are facing is that they need platforms to develop themselves and get practical experiences.

As coach of local side First Deepwater Basketball Club, Shomala gained confidence in 2017 where her team finished in second place in the domestic league.

"That made me believe strongly that we can be successful as female athletes and coaches. It made me believe that we can make a difference."

Today, Shomala ranks among the list of individuals that have won the FIBA Women's AfroBasket as player and coach.

Shomala celebrates with D'Tigresses qualification for the Tokyo Olympics 2021

She admits that it feels awesome to hold such an accolade and credits the leadership of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) for the achievement.

"I appreciate the Nigeria Basketball Federation led by Musa Kida for giving me the opportunity to serve. I am grateful for the efforts everyone put in to make sure things went well. The preparation of the women’s team was better than what we were used to. The players were determined and in high spirit to take on the rest of the world. It was good teamwork that yielded a good result," she said.

"It has been a privilege working with Coach Otis Hughley. He played a good role as a leader by carrying everyone along. Coach Otis is someone who always wants you to be involved on the court. He listens to contributions and advice. He wants you to learn and he also wants to learn. I am involved technically and also play the mother figure role."

With all the successes that trail her, it could be concluded that she is already living her dream but Shomala disagrees: "I wouldn't want to say am living my dream yet. My dream is not just for me, but for female coaches in Nigeria and Africa generally.

"I'll love to see female coaches taking the positions of head coaches in the future in all age categories, club sides and national teams. However, women must understand that such won't come on a platter of gold and requires hard work before such responsibilities can be bestowed on them. Sadly, a lot of retired players who really have the passion for coaching are being restricted because of injury."

Despite a majority of the national team players being based abroad, Shomala is at home with them and commends their doggedness for showing class in winning back to back AfroBasket women titles in Mali 2017 and in Senegal 2019.

"Our girls are well cultured and disciplined and that makes it easy to communicate and work with them. Everyone understands the role of the other."

On the successes of the current team, Shomala says that discipline coupled with adequate and sustained preparation has been key.

"For Nigeria to have been African champion for some years now, means there's something we are doing correctly. During my playing days, preparation was our greatest challenge. Players were brought together just a week to tournaments and it affected us adversely," she explained.

Though, the Nigeria women national team has caught the attention of the world placing eighth at the FIBA Women Basketball World Cup 2018 and qualified for a second Olympic appearance next year, Shomala believes that the postponement is a good chance for her team to be adequately prepared for the task ahead.

"The postponement will give us more time to plan and prepare well. Due to the lockdown, activities have slowed many of the players but they have been busy too working out, they all know what is at stake. They've been working hard to make sure they are in shape. I have faith in the team and I know we are going to shock the world again."

FIBA