Tinubu Rewards D’Tigress with National Honours, $100,000 Each After Historic AfroBasket Victory

President hails champions as symbols of unity and resilience; each player gets Officer of the Order of the Niger, $100,000, and a 3-bedroom flat

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rewarded Nigeria’s national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, with $100,000 each, Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) national honours, and three-bedroom apartments following their unprecedented fifth consecutive AfroBasket title.

Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at a special reception held on Monday evening at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja, President Tinubu lauded the team as “shining symbols of unity, resilience, and national pride.”

“Beyond being ambassadors of our nation and symbols of excellence, you have reminded us all of the power of sports to unite a diverse nation,” Shettima said. “You have brought home not just a trophy, but valuable lessons for all Nigerians.”

In addition to the players’ rewards, each member of the coaching and technical crew was also granted $50,000, national honours, and housing, in recognition of their critical role in Nigeria’s latest basketball triumph.

D’Tigress clinched their seventh overall AfroBasket title—and fifth in a row—on Sunday, with a 78–64 victory over Mali in the final match held at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The win extended their unbeaten run in the tournament to 29 games, a stretch that spans nearly a decade.

With this historic feat, Nigeria has now secured the first African qualification slot for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup pre-qualifiers.

“This is bigger than a trophy” – Captain Okonkwo

In her speech, team captain Amy Okonkwo, who was also named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, expressed deep gratitude to the nation and the administration for the recognition.

“This victory is not just about a trophy; it’s about inspiring young girls to dream big and believe in themselves,” she said.

Okonkwo praised the team’s unity, the coaching staff, the Nigeria Basketball Federation, and the unwavering support from Nigerians worldwide.

“I don’t think the sky is the limit. I think we can go beyond and break barriers,” she added confidently.

You are hope for Nigerian girls – First Lady

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, also delivered a stirring tribute, celebrating the D’Tigress squad as a beacon of hope for girls and women across the country.

“This triumph is more than just a win on the court. It is a resounding statement of hard work, teamwork, excellence, and the unbreakable Nigerian spirit,” she said.

She singled out Head Coach Rena Wakama for exceptional leadership and lauded Dr. Sarah Ogoke, a team member, surgeon, new mother, and elite athlete, calling her “the definition of resilience.”

The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Shehu Dikko, described the team’s success as a “defining moment for Nigerian sports” and a “proud symbol of African women’s excellence on the global stage.”

“Barely a week ago, we celebrated the Super Falcons. Today, we honour D’Tigress,” he said. “These victories are not by chance. They are the product of intentional strategy, leadership, and enduring grit.”

Dikko also spotlighted key players such as Ezinne Kalu and praised Coach Wakama for becoming the first African woman to lead a team to back-to-back AfroBasket titles.

He revealed that Nigeria’s U-19 women’s basketball team had just returned from the World Cup in the Czech Republic, and that D’Tigers, the men’s national team, would soon begin their own AfroBasket campaign in Angola.

“God willing, we’ll return here in a few weeks to present D’Tigers with another trophy,” he added.

The celebratory event was attended by key dignitaries including: Wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Iman Suleiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, Minister of State for Finance, Doris Anite, President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Musa Kida, Wives of cabinet ministers and top government officials.

As the echoes of applause rang through the State House Banquet Hall, D’Tigress stood tall not just as continental champions, but as ambassadors of hope, unity, and boundless possibility.

President Tinubu’s gesture not only honours a sports victory but affirms the transformational power of female athletes, the unifying role of sports, and the government’s commitment to nurturing excellence and resilience in Nigerian youth.

“In every dribble, dunk, and determined defense, D’Tigress showed us the heart of Nigeria. Their story is not just about basketball it’s about national rebirth, belief, and victory.”

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