By Amofokhai Williams
President Bola Tinubu has announced a reward of $100,000 for each player of Nigeria’s national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, following their unprecedented fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title win.
The team, led by Coach Rena Wakama, defeated Mali 78-64 in a thrilling final on Sunday night at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, securing their seventh overall AfroBasket championship and cementing their dominance in African women’s basketball.
In addition to the cash reward, President Tinubu conferred the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on each player and awarded three-bedroom apartments in Abuja’s Renewed Hope Estate to both players and technical crew members.
Each member of the technical crew will also receive $50,000 in recognition of their contributions.
The announcement was made on Monday, August 4, 2025, as part of a broader celebration of the team’s historic achievement, which also earned them a direct qualification spot for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifiers.
Tinubu praised the team’s resilience, discipline, and teamwork, noting their ability to overcome a five-point deficit in the first quarter against Mali.
“Your superb performance throughout the competition has made Nigeria proud,” he said in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
“The Federal Government and Nigerians will never forget the sacrifices and remain grateful for the highly elevating performances.”
He also commended Coach Wakama for her exemplary leadership and the Nigeria Basketball Federation for their steadfast support.
The victory sparked widespread celebration across Nigeria, with fans and officials alike lauding D’Tigress for their decade-long unbeaten streak in the tournament.
First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu described the win as “another golden chapter” in Nigeria’s sporting history, emphasizing the team’s inspiration to young girls.
“You have written another golden chapter in our dear Nation’s sporting history by defeating Mali to win your fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title,” she said.
The rewards mirror those given to the Super Falcons after their 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) victory, where each player received $100,000, a three-bedroom apartment, and the OON honour.
The precedent set by the Super Falcons prompted D’Tigress to jokingly post on X before the final, “Practicing $100k dance for @officialABAT,” referencing Tinubu’s earlier gesture. The post, which went viral, reflected the team’s lighthearted confidence and anticipation of presidential recognition.
