The Federal Government has conferred national honours on D’Tigress, Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, in recognition of their remarkable achievements on the continental stage. Each player received the Order of the Niger (OON) award, a cash prize of $100,000, and a fully furnished apartment.
Members of the technical crew, led by Coach Rena Wakama, were also rewarded with $50,000 each.
The announcement was made during a reception held on Monday evening in Abuja. President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima and First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu, hosted the event to celebrate the team’s unprecedented fifth consecutive AfroBasket Women’s Championship title.
This gesture comes shortly after similar national honours were bestowed on the Super Falcons for their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in Morocco.
In Sunday’s AfroBasket final, Nigeria triumphed over Mali 78–64, securing their seventh overall title in the competition. Despite a slow start, D’Tigress rallied in the second quarter to level the game at halftime (41–41) and took control in the third, outscoring Mali 20–15.
Key performances came from Ezinne Kalu and Amy Okonkwo, who scored 20 and 19 points, respectively. Kalu’s impact in the second and third quarters proved pivotal. Contributions from Promise Amukamara, Victoria Macaulay, and Musa—who chipped in nine points and four rebounds—further highlighted the team’s depth and resilience.
Earlier in the tournament, Nigeria edged out Senegal 75–68 in a hard-fought semi-final, dubbed the “final before the final.”
With this latest triumph, D’Tigress has extended their unbeaten streak in Africa to 29 games, a run that began in 2015. Their dominance has firmly established them as the powerhouse of women’s basketball in Africa.
