Players and officials of Nigeria’s Senior Women’s Basketball team, D’Tigress, have expressed their profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, after receiving the financial rewards promised for their triumphant 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket campaign. The payments mark the fulfillment of the final phase of the Presidential Rewards dedicated to the team for their continental dominance.
The swift disbursement follows a strategic meeting between the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Prof. Taiwo Oyedele, to finalize the outstanding payments. Remarkably, within three days of concluding this administrative process, the players and officials of both D’Tigress and the Super Falcons received their respective financial rewards directly into their accounts.
Speaking on behalf of the squad, D’Tigress Captain Amy Okonkwo praised President Tinubu, describing him as a father figure with an unwavering commitment to the welfare of Nigerian athletes.
“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,” Okonkwo stated. “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. 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 in our various accounts.”
The captain also extended the team’s appreciation to the First Lady, as well as the leadership of the NSC—led by Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade—and the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) under the leadership of Engr. Musa Kida. Okonkwo noted that this seamless fulfillment of promises proves that Nigerian sports administration is undergoing a major positive shift under a truly sports-loving President.
D’Tigress currently stand as the undisputed queens of African women’s basketball, having secured the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title for a record five consecutive times. Their 2025 championship victory in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where they defeated Mali 78-64, secured their seventh overall continental crown. This historic triumph extended their unbeaten run in the competition to 29 consecutive games, cementing their legacy as the first team in Women’s AfroBasket history to win five successive titles.
