Nigeria’s National Sports Commission has confirmed the payment of the naira equivalent of $100,000 to each player of D’Tigress in recognition of their historic triumph at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket, ChannelsTv reported. The payment fulfils the Federal Government’s pledge to reward the team after Nigeria defeated Mali 78 to 64 in the final in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to secure a fifth consecutive continental title.
The victory extended Nigeria’s dominance of women’s basketball in Africa, with D’Tigress becoming the first team to win the competition five times consecutively. Nigeria entered the tournament as four time defending champions and maintained its unbeaten run through the competition, while Amy Okonkwo was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
The financial reward represents one of the Federal Government’s most significant direct incentives for a national sports team and comes as Nigeria seeks to strengthen support for athletes following international success. Beyond the cash payment, the recognition places greater attention on the value of sustained investment in women’s sport and the athletes representing Nigeria at the highest level.
For D’Tigress, the reward provides a tangible recognition of a historic achievement that has strengthened Nigeria’s position as the leading force in African women’s basketball. The team’s 2025 AfroBasket success also secured Nigeria’s place in the qualification pathway for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, giving the champions another opportunity to translate continental dominance into global success.
