FG Pays $100,000 Each to D’Tigress Players Following Fifth AfroBasket Title

The Federal Government has paid the naira equivalent of $100,000 each to members of Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, following their historic victory at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) confirmed that the players’ accounts were credited on September 9, 2026, with the naira equivalent of the $100,000 presidential cash reward announced by President Bola Tinubu.

The payment completes the financial component of the reward package approved for the team after they secured a record fifth consecutive AfroBasket title and seventh overall.

D’Tigress defeated Mali 78–64 in the final of the 2025 championship in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, extending their dominance of African women’s basketball.

Alongside the players’ payments, members of the coaching and technical team received the naira equivalent of $50,000 each.

The NSC said all players and officials had confirmed receipt of the funds, bringing the Federal Government’s promised rewards for the team to full completion.

The reward package also included three-bedroom apartments in Abuja and national honours of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) for the players and officials.

The housing documents and certificates of national honours were presented to members of the team in February 2026 in Lyon, France, during their participation in the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying programme.

The cash payment came after the NSC had earlier indicated that the financial reward was at the final stage of processing.

President Tinubu had announced the reward during a presidential reception for the team in August 2025, praising the players for their resilience, discipline and contribution to Nigeria’s sporting reputation.

D’Tigress’ triumph against Mali marked another milestone for a team that has dominated the continental championship, winning five consecutive editions.

The government said the rewards form part of its broader commitment to athlete welfare and sports development, with the administration seeking to position sports as an important component of national development and economic advancement.

The NSC also expressed appreciation to government ministries and agencies involved in processing the payments and other aspects of the presidential reward package.

With the cash payments now completed, the commission said the entire presidential reward promised to D’Tigress has been fully redeemed.