Nigeria's D'Tigress Team Celebrates $100,000 Reward Confirmation from President Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has successfully fulfilled his promise to reward each member of Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, with the naira equivalent of $100,000 following their historic 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket triumph. This payment marks the completion of the comprehensive package of presidential rewards promised to the team, which also included three-bedroom homes in Abuja and prestigious national honours.

The President, in a statement, confirmed that the rewards had now been fully redeemed. Each D’Tigress player received the naira equivalent of $100,000, while each official was awarded the equivalent of $50,000, thereby completing their entitlements comprising cash, national honours, and residential properties in Abuja. President Tinubu highlighted this achievement, noting, “For the first time, a Federal Government has fully fulfilled this scale of presidential sporting rewards within one year. We had to follow the processes required by law and ensure that every commitment was properly implemented. That took time, but a promise made must be a promise kept.”

The D’Tigress earned these presidential accolades after securing the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title for an unprecedented fifth consecutive time and seventh overall. According to the National Sports Commission (NSC), the players and officials had previously received the title documents for their three-bedroom apartments in Abuja and certificates of national honours, including the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), in February 2026, during the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifiers held in Lyon, France. The recent cash disbursement, therefore, finalizes this extensive presidential package.

President Tinubu further disclosed that efforts were underway to complete the outstanding cash rewards for the Super Falcons, who have already received their allocated house title documents and National Honours certificates. He also confirmed that the promises of houses and national honours made to Super Eagles players had already been redeemed. The President reiterated his commitment, stating, “Our athletes who bring honour to Nigeria deserve more than applause. They deserve a country that keeps its word. My promise to every Nigerian Athlete is to make NIGERIA proud and come back to a grateful Nation. Congratulations once again, our athletes. Nigeria is proud of you.”

D’Tigress captain, Amy Okonkwo, conveyed the team's profound appreciation to President Tinubu, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, the NSC, and the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) for ensuring the fulfillment of these promises. She remarked, “On behalf of the entire Women’s Senior National Team, the D-Tigress, I want to sincerely thank our dear President, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the incredible show of love and support. Mr. President, you’ve fulfilled every promise made to us after our AfroBasket victory, the houses, the national honours, and now the financial rewards. This is truly life-changing for all of us. We are more than grateful to you and to our dear country, Nigeria.” Okonkwo also extended gratitude to the First Lady for her continuous encouragement and maternal care towards the team, and acknowledged the leadership of the National Sports Commission for their unwavering commitment.

NBBF President Musa Kida also offered his thanks to President Tinubu, emphasizing that the payment demonstrated the President's integrity in keeping his word. Addressing the team's recent challenging 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup campaign in Germany, where they faced three consecutive group-stage defeats, Mr. Kida stated emphatically, “One bad tournament in eight years can not condemn a great team, as mischief makers would want Nigerians to believe.” He urged the team to move past this setback and return to their winning ways.

Captain Okonkwo concluded her message by thanking all Nigerians for their unwavering support, stating, “Finally, we wish to thank all Nigerians for us and for who believed in us. You did not only cheer us on, you gave us a greater belief in our dear country, Nigeria. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you to all of our leaders. Thank you, Nigeria. We are grateful. God bless you all and God bless our dear country, Nigeria.”