By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
Players and officials of Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have received the outstanding financial rewards promised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their triumph at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship.
The payment represents the final tranche of the Presidential Rewards announced in recognition of the team’s historic continental victory.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) said the Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, recently met with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Prof. Taiwo Oyedele, to conclude arrangements for the payment of the outstanding rewards.
According to the Commission, within three days of the conclusion of the process, players and officials of D’Tigress, as well as the Super Falcons, received the financial rewards promised by the President.
D’Tigress captain, Amy Okonkwo, speaking on behalf of the team, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, describing him as a father who had demonstrated strong commitment to the development and welfare of Nigerian athletes.
Okonkwo said the team was grateful for the President’s fulfilment of his promises following their AfroBasket victory.
She noted that the team had received the houses promised to them, national honours bestowed on them and, most recently, the financial rewards paid into their respective accounts.
“We are more than grateful to Mr. President, the First Lady, and the leadership of the National Sports Commission, led by the Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade,” she said.
She also commended the Nigeria Basketball Federation and its President, Engr. Musa Kida, for their support.
According to Okonkwo, the fulfilment of the promises demonstrated that Nigerian sports administration was undergoing a positive transformation and reflected the President’s commitment to sports development.
D’Tigress are the reigning champions of African women’s basketball, having won the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title a record five consecutive times.
The team secured its seventh continental title at the 2025 championship in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, defeating Mali 78-64 in the final.
The victory extended Nigeria’s unbeaten run in the competition to 29 consecutive games and made D’Tigress the first team in the history of the Women’s AfroBasket to win five successive titles.
