Sport
FG Gifts Nigeria Basketball Team $100,000 for Victory at 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship
By Dayo Dare
The D’Tigress received a hero’s welcome on Monday as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rewarded the Nigerian women’s basketball team with $100,000 each following their dominant run at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship. Members of the coaching staff were also honored with $50,000 each for their role in the team’s historic fifth consecutive title.
President Tinubu hosted the championship-winning squad at the Stateroom Banquet Hall in Abuja. The celebration drew key figures, including First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of the vice president Hajiya Nana Shettima, and Chief of Staff Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.
In addition to the cash gift, the president awarded each player and coach a bedroom flat at the Renewed Hope Estate and conferred on them the national honor of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
The D’Tigress have remained undefeated in AfroBasket competition since 2015, building a legacy of excellence and dominance on the continent.
The recognition extended beyond the basketball court. The Super Falcons, Nigeria’s women’s football team, were also honored for their tenth Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title, won last year in Rabat, Morocco.
Vice President Kashim Shettima applauded the basketball team’s consistency and resilience over the years.
“You have brought great pride to Nigeria. Your excellence on the court has once again put our nation on the global map for sporting greatness.
“My dear daughters, you fought back from behind in the past quarter, not with panic, but with poise. You wore the green and white not just as clothes, but as a symbol of unity and now you wear the crown as kings of African basketball for the fifth consecutive time.”
Shettima also acknowledged the contributions of the National Sports Commission and the Nigerian Basketball Federation, particularly under the leadership of Mallam Alabi and Malam Ahmadu Musa Kida, for prioritizing athlete welfare, grassroots development, and performance-based support.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu called the victory more than just a win, describing it as “a resounding statement of hard work, excellence, and national pride.”
Team captain Amy Okonkwo, speaking on behalf of the players, thanked the federal government for their unwavering support and reaffirmed their commitment to continue making Nigeria proud.
“Thank you for believing in us. We’re honored to wear the green and white and represent this great nation.”
As D’Tigress prepares for future competitions, the message is clear, this team is not just playing for medals; they’re building a legacy.
