By Frontline Reporters

The Federal Government has fulfilled its cash reward promise to members of Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, following their historic triumph at the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championship.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) confirmed that the naira equivalent of $100,000 has been paid to each player, while each member of the technical and administrative team received the equivalent of $50,000.

According to the commission, the accounts of the beneficiaries were credited on September 9, 2026, with all players and officials confirming receipt of the funds.

D’Tigress clinched the Afrobasket crown for a record fifth consecutive time and seventh overall, further cementing Nigeria’s dominance in women’s basketball on the African continent.

The NSC said the latest payment completes all components of the Presidential Rewards promised to the team by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following their historic achievement.

The rewards comprise three-bedroom apartments in Abuja, national honours of the Order of the Niger (OON), and cash awards of $100,000 for each player and $50,000 for each official.

In a statement signed by its Director of Information and Public Relations, Kehinde Ajayi, the NSC said the entire package had now been fully redeemed.

The commission recalled that the players and officials had earlier received title documents for their three-bedroom apartments in Abuja as well as certificates of their national honours in February 2026 during the FIBA World Cup qualifiers in Lyon, France. The documents were duly signed by President Tinubu.

The NSC said the cash component was subsequently processed following the team’s participation in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany.

Meanwhile, the commission disclosed that the Super Falcons, who were also promised Presidential Rewards, had received title documents for their three-bedroom apartments in Abuja and certificates of national honours during the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The cash component of the Falcons’ reward is expected to be paid before their next official engagements. Each player is to receive the naira equivalent of $100,000, while officials will receive $50,000 each.

The NSC described the rewards as part of the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerian athletes and recognising outstanding sporting achievements.

It also commended President Tinubu for his support for Nigerian sports, saying his policies had strengthened the commission’s reform agenda and efforts to build a sustainable sports economy.

The commission expressed appreciation to the Ministers of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Federal Capital Territory, Housing and Urban Development, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, as well as the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, for their collaboration in implementing the rewards.

According to the NSC, the collaboration enabled the Presidential Rewards to be delivered “in record time within the due process requirements.”

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