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By Myke Agunwa
In an uncommon display of generousity, President Bola Tinubu has again showered the naira equivalent of $100,000 to each of the players in the victorious 2025 Women’s Afrobasket team, D’Tigress.
The President also conferred national honour of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) award on all members of the team while the technical crew were also rewarded with $50,000 each.
This similar gesture was earlier bestowed on the Super Falcons that also brought back a gold cup following a 10th victory at 2024 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2024)that ended last week in Morocco.
Tinubu made the announcement at a reception organized for the team at the presidential villa on Monday.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu praised the team’s resilience, discipline, and representation of Nigeria on the continental stage, describing them as role models for the nation’s youth and a symbol of national pride.
He also announced that each of the players and officials will also be get a house at the Renewed Hope Estate in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Recall that the Nigerian team came from behind to defeat Mali 78-64 in the final, which was held at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, the capital of Cote d’Ivoire.
The victory makes Nigeria the only country ever to win the women’s Afrobasket title five times in a row.
D’Tigress also booked an automatic ticket for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin, Germany.
Dignitaries present at the reception include Oluremi Tinubu, the first lady; Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president; Garba Maidoki, chairman of the senate committee on youths and sports development; and Kabiru Amadou, chairman of the house committee on sports.