President Bola Tinubu on Monday honoured Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, following their historic triumph at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship.
Each player was awarded $100,000, while members of the coaching and technical crew received $50,000 each.
Additionally, every team member will receive a three-bedroom apartment, and all were conferred with the prestigious national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
The announcement was made by Vice President Kashim Shettima during a reception held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja, organised to celebrate the team’s remarkable achievement.
D’Tigress extended their dominance in African women’s basketball by defeating Mali 78–64 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on Sunday to clinch a record fifth consecutive AfroBasket title.
This achievement surpassed Senegal’s long-standing four-title streak (1974–1981), making Nigeria the first team in history to win the championship five times in a row.
The victorious team and their officials were warmly received by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, joined by the Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, at the New Banquet Hall in the Presidential Villa. The event began at 5:05 PM.
Speaking on behalf of the President, Vice President Shettima lauded the team’s “unwavering dedication, resilience, and consistent excellence on the court.”
Also present at the reception were Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President; Senator Garba Maidoki, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youths and Sports Development; and Kabiru Amadou, Chairman of the House Committee on Sports.
With this win, Nigeria extended their unbeaten run at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament to 29 consecutive games over the past 10 years.
The team also earned an automatic qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
Team captain Amy Okonkwo was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, earning the award for the second time in a row.
Monday’s event mirrored a similar ceremony held a week earlier by President Tinubu to honour the Super Falcons, Nigeria’s women’s national football team, following their recent 10th WAFCON title win in Rabat, Morocco.
