ABUJA: President Bola Tinubu has rewarded Nigeria’s senior national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, with a substantial package of cash, housing, and national honours for their triumphant victory at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament.
During a special reception at the State House in Abuja on Monday, Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing the President, announced that each player would receive $100,000, a 3-bedroom flat at the Renewed Hope Estate, and the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger OON.
The 11-member coaching and technical team were also given $50,000 each, 3-bedroom flats, and the same OON honour.
The recognition comes after D’Tigress secured their fifth consecutive and seventh overall AfroBasket title by defeating Mali 78–64 on Sunday evening in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
This victory extends their remarkable 28-game unbeaten streak in the tournament, reaffirming their dominance in African women’s basketball. It is also the fifth time (Mission V) that they have lifted the trophy.
The team’s win has also secured their place in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup.
Vice President Shettima praised the team’s resilience and unity, noting that they “wore the green and white not just as clothes, but as a symbol of unity.”
He singled out Head Coach Rena Wakama for her leadership, calling her an inspiration for young girls nationwide and a symbol of the evolution of leadership in Nigerian sports.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, also expressed her pride and joy, stating that the victory is a “resounding statement of hard work, excellence, and national pride.”
She highlighted the team’s role as ambassadors of the nation and noted that their success would inspire future generations of Nigerian girls and women to pursue their dreams.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, lauded the team’s achievement as a milestone for Nigerian sports, especially for women.
He attributed their success to “intentional investment, leadership, and the resilience of our athletes.”
Dikko emphasized that the government is committed to repositioning sports as a key pillar of national development, with a focus on grassroots support, athlete welfare and institutional reform.
The recognition of D’Tigress followed a similar reception for the Super Falcons, who won their tenth Women’s Africa Cup of Nations WAFCON title.
