By Elegbede Abiodun
” … 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,” D’Tigress captain Amy Okonkwo said.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has fulfilled his outstanding financial pledge to Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, following their historic triumph at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in Côte d’Ivoire.
Players and officials of the national team have received the cash rewards promised by the President in recognition of their record-extending continental success.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) disclosed this in a statement signed by the director of press and public relations, Dr. (Mrs.) Kehinde Ajayi, on Wednesday. The statement revealed that the payments represented the final component of the Presidential Rewards announced for D’Tigress after they defeated Mali 78-64 in the final in Abidjan to retain their African title.
The development comes after NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko met with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Prof. Taiwo Oyedele, to conclude arrangements for the release of the outstanding funds.
According to the NSC, the process was completed within three days, with both D’Tigress and the Super Falcons receiving the financial rewards pledged to them by the President.
D’Tigress captain Amy Okonkwo welcomed the payment, expressing appreciation to Tinubu for fulfilling his commitment to the players and officials.
“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,” Okonkwo said.
“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.”
The captain described the rewards as an unprecedented gesture, noting that the team had also received other benefits promised by the President.
“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,” she added.
Okonkwo also thanked First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, the NSC leadership, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) and its president, Musa Kida, for their support.
She said the fulfilment of the promises had strengthened the players’ belief that Nigerian sports administration was undergoing a positive transformation.
“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 said.
D’Tigress remain the dominant force in African women’s basketball, having won the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket for a record five consecutive editions.
Their 2025 triumph was Nigeria’s seventh continental title and extended the team’s unbeaten run in the competition to 29 consecutive matches.
The historic victory also made D’Tigress the first team in the history of the Women’s AfroBasket to win five successive titles.
The release of the outstanding cash rewards means Tinubu has now completed the major components of the incentives announced for the team following their latest continental triumph.
