The Federal Government has fulfilled its reward pledge to Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, following their historic triumph at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2025 in Côte d’Ivoire.
The National Sports Commission confirmed on Monday that members of the team have now received their national honour certificates as well as official documents for their allocated housing.
The presentation was held in Lyon, where the African champions are currently competing in the qualifiers for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
The development marks the completion of a promise made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after the team’s outstanding performance at the continental tournament in August 2025.
At the time, Tinubu had announced a comprehensive reward package, which included the conferment of the national honour of Order of the Niger (OON) on each player, a cash prize of $100,000, and the allocation of a housing unit in Abuja.
Members of the technical crew, led by head coach Rena Wakama, were also rewarded with $50,000 each in recognition of their role in the team’s success.
D’Tigress secured their seventh AfroBasket title on August 3, 2025, after defeating Mali 78–64 in a closely contested final.
The victory marked an unprecedented fifth consecutive championship for the Nigerian side, further cementing their dominance in African women’s basketball.
Standout performances from key players, including Amy Okonkwo and Ezinne Kalu, proved decisive in the final as the team maintained composure to seal the win.
The triumph also extended the team’s remarkable unbeaten run on the continent, with D’Tigress recording 29 consecutive victories since 2015.
Meanwhile, the team is currently participating in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournament in Lyon, where they have recorded mixed results.
Victories against Colombia and the Philippines have been offset by defeats to South Korea and hosts France.
They are expected to round off their qualifying campaign with a final fixture against Germany as they seek to secure a place at the global tournament.
The fulfilment of the Federal Government’s promise has been widely seen as a boost to morale within the team and a demonstration of recognition for excellence in Nigerian sports.
