By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
JUST ABOUT a week after a national reception for the Super Falcons, President Bola Tinubu has conferred national honours on Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, following their historic victory at the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championship in Côte d’Ivoire.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing the President at the Presidential Villa on Monday, announced the conferment of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) honour on each member of the team.
He further disclosed that each player would receive $100,000 and a flat in the Federal Capital Territory. Members of the technical crew were each awarded $50,000.
D’Tigress defeated Mali 78-64 in the final played at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan on Sunday to claim their seventh Afrobasket title and fifth consecutive championship.
The win also secured Nigeria an automatic qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin, Germany.
The team, led by Coach Rena Wakama, extended their unbeaten run in the tournament to 29 matches since 2015. A decisive third-quarter performance proved crucial as Nigeria pulled away with a 20–15 scoreline to take control of the final.
Ezinne Kalu delivered 20 points while Amy Okonkwo added 19, with strong support from Promise Amukamara, Victoria Macaulay, and Musa, who contributed nine points and four rebounds.
To reach the final, Nigeria edged Senegal 75–68 in the semi-final match, widely referred to as the “final before the final.” At halftime in the final, both teams were level at 41–41 before D’Tigress gained momentum to close out the game.
The honours and rewards come one week after similar recognition was given to the Super Falcons for their tenth Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.
