Tinubu Pays D’Tigress $100,000 AfroBasket Reward, Players’ Hail Gesture
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has fulfilled his financial promise to Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, following their historic triumph at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship.
The players and officials have received the outstanding financial rewards promised by the President after D’Tigress successfully defended their continental crown in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The payment represents the final component of the Presidential Rewards announced for the team in recognition of their record-breaking achievement.
The development followed the intervention of the National Sports Commission, with its Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, recently meeting with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Prof. Taiwo Oyedele, to conclude arrangements for the release of the outstanding payments.
According to the National Sports Commission, the process was concluded within three days, with members of both D’Tigress and the Super Falcons receiving their respective financial rewards.
Okonkwo Leads D’Tigress Appreciation
D’Tigress captain Amy Okonkwo led the team in expressing appreciation to President Tinubu for fulfilling his commitment to the players.
She described the gesture as a significant demonstration of the President’s commitment to Nigerian athletes and their welfare.
“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 noted that the team had received the different rewards promised following their historic victory, including houses, national honours and the financial incentives.
“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.”
The captain also acknowledged the contributions of the First Lady, the National Sports Commission leadership and the Nigeria Basketball Federation.
“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.”
She added that the fulfilment of the promises had strengthened the team’s confidence in the direction of Nigerian sports administration.
“This has shown us that Nigerian sports is taking a major positive shift in administration and that we truly have a sports-loving President,” Okonkwo concluded.
Historic AfroBasket Triumph
D’Tigress continued their unprecedented dominance of African women’s basketball by winning the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title.
Nigeria defeated Mali 78–64 in the final in Abidjan to claim a record seventh continental title and a historic fifth consecutive championship.
The victory also extended Nigeria’s unbeaten run at the Women’s AfroBasket to 29 consecutive games, further underlining the team’s supremacy on the continent.
The latest payment means the financial rewards promised by President Tinubu following the historic achievement have now been delivered to the players and officials.
