By Olatunbosun Obafemi
President Bola Tinubu has conferred national honours and generous rewards on Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, following their record-breaking fifth consecutive AfroBasket title.
At a presidential reception held at the State House Banquet Hall, the team was celebrated for their 78–64 victory over Mali in the final of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu praised the players for their determination, resilience, and consistent dominance on the continental stage. Each player and member of the technical team was awarded the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). Additionally, Tinubu approved a cash reward of the naira equivalent of $100,000 for each player and $50,000 for the coach and other technical crew members. A housing allocation of one flat per person was also announced.
Despite the generous gestures, the long-standing disparity in reward between players and coaches continues, with coaches receiving half the financial award given to players. This comes after Pastor E.A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, publicly urged the government to reward coaches equally, noting that “without the coach, there would be no team.” Yet, Tinubu’s administration has maintained the unequal structure, raising fresh debate about fairness in sports incentives.
President Tinubu, however, commended Coach Rena Wakama for her historic achievement, becoming the first African woman to lead a national team to back-to-back AfroBasket titles. He praised her leadership and described her impact as inspirational to young girls across Nigeria. He also acknowledged Amy Okonkwo, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), and Ezinne Kalu, the top scorer in the final, for their exceptional contributions.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, applauded the victory as a symbol of excellence and hard work, following closely on the heels of the Super Falcons’ WAFCON 2024 win. Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Shehu Dikko, called the triumph a defining moment in Nigerian sports history, citing the team’s 29-game unbeaten AfroBasket streak.
Team captain Okonkwo expressed gratitude on behalf of the team, pledging to continue inspiring young Nigerian girls through sports and discipline.
