President Bola Tinubu has honoured Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, with national recognition following their historic fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title.
At a reception in Abuja on Monday evening, each player received the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger (OON), a $100,000 cash prize, and a flat. Members of the coaching crew, led by Coach Rena Wakama, were also awarded $50,000 each.
The event was hosted by First Lady Remi Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of the president.
“The rewards are a token of the nation’s appreciation for your excellence,” they noted during the celebration.
D’Tigress clinched their seventh overall AfroBasket title after a thrilling 78–64 win over Mali in the final, further extending their unbeaten streak in African competition to 29 games since 2015.
As in previous games, Nigeria started slowly but regrouped in the second quarter to level the scores at 41–41 by halftime. A strong defensive effort in the third quarter proved crucial, with Nigeria outscoring Mali 20–15 and entering the final quarter with a 61–56 lead.
Amy Okonkwo and Ezinne Kalu stood out, with Okonkwo scoring 19 points and Kalu adding 20, including key plays in the second and third quarters. Promise Amukamara, Victoria Macaulay, and Musa also made vital contributions. Musa recorded nine points and four rebounds.
Their semi-final against Senegal was a nail-biter, ending 75–68 in Nigeria’s favour—a game many had described as the “final before the final.”
“Our South-South zonal congress that was held must be upheld. There’s no doubt, no two ways about it,” Coach Rena Wakama, who Coach Wakama now has two titles in two attempts, having led the team to victory in 2023 as the first woman to coach a team to Afrobasket glory, had earlier said about their path to the top.
The latest victory cements D’Tigress’ position as the most dominant team in African women’s basketball.
Just last week, Tinubu similarly honoured the Super Falcons for winning their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco, signaling continued support for Nigerian women in sports.
D’Tigress emerges second team with most FIBA Women’s AfroBasket trophies
With history recorded in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on Sunday, by D’Tigress in their 78–64 victory over Mali, the Nigeria female team now ranks second with most FIBA Women’s AfroBasket trophies
First on the list is Senegal with 11 titles won in 1974, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1984, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2009, 2015
Nigeri won its titles in 2003, 2005, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025.
Third on list list is Zaire (DR Congo) with three titles won in 1983, 1986, 1994.
Angola won two titles in 2011, 2013 while Mali bag one title in 2007 to stand fourth and fifth on the list, respectively.
