The Federal Government has fulfilled its pledge to Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, rewarding them for their 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket triumph with houses and national honours.
The team was presented with title documents for flats in Abuja, alongside certificates conferring the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) honour.
The presentation ceremony took place on March 16 in Lyon, France, where the team is currently competing in the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers 2026.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, and Director-General Bukola Olopade presented the awards on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who had made the promise following the team’s historic fifth consecutive continental title.
Coached by Rena Wakama, the Nigerian side clinched the championship in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, after defeating Mali women’s national basketball team 78–64 in the final.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dikko commended the President for fulfilling the commitment.
“I thank Mr President for restoring confidence in Nigerian sports and proving that sports can transform lives and livelihoods,” he said.
He further assured the players that their promised $100,000 individual cash rewards were in the final stages of disbursement.
The recognition of D’Tigress forms part of a broader initiative by the administration to reward Nigeria’s national teams for outstanding performances on the continental stage.
Recently, President Tinubu extended similar incentives — including $100,000 cash prizes, three-bedroom apartments and OON honours — to the Super Falcons after their triumph at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2025 in Morocco.
In the same vein, members of the Super Eagles were also presented with houses, land allocations and the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) award in recognition of their runner-up finish at the Africa Cup of Nations 2023, where they lost 2–1 to hosts Ivory Coast national football team in the final.
