Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have been awarded national honours, $100,000 each, and apartments following their record-breaking fifth consecutive victory at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, made the announcement on Monday evening during a special reception held at the State House in Abuja.
Each player was conferred with the Order of the Niger (OON), one of Nigeria’s prestigious national honours. Members of the technical crew, led by head coach Rena Wakama, were also recognised with $50,000 each for their role in the team’s success.
The reward follows D’Tigress’ emphatic 78-64 victory over Mali in the tournament final, held in Kigali, Rwanda. The win marked Nigeria’s seventh overall AfroBasket title and extended their undefeated streak to 29 games — a dominance stretching back to 2015.
After a slow start against Mali, the Nigerian side regrouped, levelling the game 41–41 at halftime. A critical third quarter saw D’Tigress outscore their opponents 20-15, and they maintained their momentum through the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Amy Okonkwo and Ezinne Kalu led the charge with standout performances. Okonkwo scored 19 points, while Kalu added 20 points, including clutch baskets that swung the game in Nigeria’s favour. Promise Amukamara, Victoria Macaulay, and Musa also made notable contributions in the final.
To reach the championship game, D’Tigress had earlier edged out Senegal in a closely-fought semi-final clash, widely dubbed the “final before the final.”
This reward follows a similar gesture last week when the federal government honoured the Super Falcons for their WAFCON achievements.
With this latest triumph, D’Tigress have firmly cemented their status as the most dominant force in African women’s basketball, inspiring a new generation of female athletes across the continent.
