Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, have been promised a remarkable reward package following their dominant victory at the Fiba Women’s AfroBasket Championship in Ivory Coast over the weekend. Each player will receive $100,000 (£75,000) in cash and a three-bedroom flat, Vice-President Kashim Shettima announced during a celebratory reception in Abuja.
Nigeria’s Vice-President Kashim Shettima celebrated with D’Tigress players and lifted their trophy during a reception for the team in the capital, Abuja.
D’Tigress defeated Mali 78–64 in Sunday’s final, securing their seventh AfroBasket title and reinforcing their status as a continental powerhouse. The win also booked them a place at next year’s FIBA Women’s World Cup.
The reception, held at the State House in Nigeria’s capital, was attended by government officials, sports dignitaries, and members of the victorious squad. Vice-President Shettima joined the players in lifting the championship trophy, praising their dedication and resilience. He emphasised that the rewards were not only for their victory but also for their role in inspiring young Nigerians.
In addition to the players’ rewards, members of D’Tigress’s coaching and technical crew will each receive $50,000 and a three-bedroom flat. The package mirrors a similar pledge made last month to the Super Falcons, Nigeria’s national women’s football team, after their triumph at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon).
President Bola Tinubu, in a statement celebrating the team’s achievement, hailed Nigerian sportswomen as consistent champions on the world stage. “Nigerian women have never failed this nation in sports,” he said. “From the Super Falcons standing tall globally, to our athletes breaking records on the track, and D’Tigress building a basketball dynasty, our women have consistently made us proud.”
He urged young Nigerians to take inspiration from the team’s journey: “Let the story of D’Tigress remind you that greatness is a product of hard work, discipline, and belief. Nigeria belongs to those who dare to dream and are willing to give their best to make those dreams a reality.”
The victory in Abidjan was the latest chapter in D’Tigress’s growing legacy. Over the past decade, the team has dominated African women’s basketball, combining local talent with overseas-based players to create a squad capable of challenging at the global level.
With the World Cup now on the horizon, the government’s show of support aims to boost morale and prepare the team for the next stage of their journey. For D’Tigress, the celebrations in Abuja mark both a reward for past triumphs and a launchpad for future glory.
