D’Tigress Express Gratitude To Tinubu, Nigerians For Reception

Players and officials of the victorious D’Tigress have expressed gratitude to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Nigerians for the memorable reception after winning the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket trophy.

Tinubu rewarded the players, and officials of the team with 100, 000 dollars each, national honours, and a three-bedroom apartment for winning the tournament for a historic fifth consecutive time.

The players and their officials have been warmly received back home since their heroic feat in Abidjan where they did the unprecedented by winning the African women title for a record five times in a row.

After winning the tournament, the Nigeria basketball Federation, NBBF, alongside the National Sports Commission, NSC, ensured the team was flown back home as royalties in a chartered flight to officially present the trophy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR , at the Presidential Villa.

And taking a look at all that were put together for the team in the last few days. The players expressed profound gratitude and appreciation to the Federal Government and the Corporation Bodies.

Captain of the Team, Amy Okonkwo described all the receptions as an unforgettable experience of a lifetime for them.

She said: “My girls and myself are sincerely overwhelmed to see how the whole country welcomed us and showed us love. It’s been a wonderful and indescribable experience, and we are even more motivated now to go on to do more for the country.

“Mr President showed us fatherly love and has given us more hope for the future. What can I say about our mothers – the Minister of Women Affairs, the Minister of Culture and Creative Economy and the Minister of state for Finance. Their support has been very inspiring and as a team, we are very thankful”.

“The Leadership of the National Sports Commission, NSC, led by Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and the Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade, has also been very supportive. We have never had it this good, seeing how the NSC has been very concerned about our welfare and success throughout the tournament”.

“I also want to thank Corporate Nigeria, especially Zenith Bank Plc, who have been a big backbone of Nigeria Basketball for many years.They played a big part in our success story today. A big thank you also to NNPC, and we are very excited for all the plans they are putting together for Nigerian basketball”.

Amy Okonkwo who was adjudged the best player at the tournament also gave a special appreciation to the leadership of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, led by its President Engr Musa Kida.

She said: “All of these would not have been possible if not for the kind of leadership of basketball in Nigeria led by our President, Engr Musa Kida, whose immense sacrifice has brought us this far. He is our father and leader who inspires us everyday alongside our General Manager Musa Adamu and other board members of the federation.”

President of the NBBF, Engr Musa Kida also thanked everyone for making the victory an unforgettable experience, expressing confidence that it will surely open a new vista of growth for basketball in the country.

Okonkwo is Nigeria’s most decorated Most Valuable Player in AfroBasket history after winning the MVP award in the 2023, and 2025 edition of the tournament.

Only three Nigerian players have won the AfroBasket MVP award: Mfon Udoka in 2005, Ezinne Kalu in 2019, and Adaora Elonu in 2021, each winning it once.