Players and officials of Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following the payment of the financial rewards promised to the team after their triumph at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket.
The payments complete the package of presidential rewards announced in recognition of the team’s successful title defence in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The development followed efforts by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, to conclude arrangements for the outstanding payments.
Within days of the process being finalised, members 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 the President and other officials who played roles in ensuring that the promises were fulfilled.
“On behalf of the entire D’Tigress team, I want to specially thank our dear President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for this show of love and support. We are truly grateful for everything he has done to ensure that we receive all that he promised us after winning the AfroBasket last year,” Okonkwo said.
“This is an unprecedented gesture from Mr. President. We have received the houses he promised us, the national honours he bestowed on us, and now we have all received the financial rewards promised to us in our various 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. We are also very grateful to the Nigeria Basketball Federation and its President, Engr. Musa Kida.
“This has shown us that Nigerian sports is taking a major positive shift in administration and that we truly have a sports-loving President,” she added.
D’Tigress won the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket in Abidjan after defeating Mali 78-64 in the final.
The victory gave Nigeria a seventh African title and a record fifth consecutive championship. It also extended D’Tigress’ unbeaten run at the competition to 29 games and made them the first team to win five successive Women’s AfroBasket titles.
