Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, is expected at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, this afternoon following their triumphant outing at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
State House officials confirmed that the African champions, who overpowered Mali 78–64 in a thrilling final on Sunday, will be hosted by President Bola Tinubu in recognition of their outstanding performance and contribution to national pride.
The victory marks a significant milestone for the team, clinching their fifth consecutive AfroBasket title and seventh overall, making them the most successful side in the tournament’s history.
With this win, D’Tigress also extended their unbeaten run in the competition to 10 straight years, cementing their dominance on the continent.
Led by head coach Rena Wakama, the Nigerian side overcame a sluggish start to take full control of the second half, executing a disciplined game plan that left Mali trailing.
Their road to the final was no less impressive, having battled past Senegal in a fiercely contested semi-final encounter.
The reception at the Villa forms part of a broader celebration of the team’s historic feat, and expectations are already building around possible state recognition and rewards.
Public discourse has turned toward whether the Tinubu administration will replicate the generous gesture extended to the Super Falcons after their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) victory in Morocco.
Following that triumph, the Falcons were awarded $100,000 each, ₦50,000 for technical crew members, national honours as Officers of the Order of the Niger (OON), and three-bedroom apartments under the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme.
In anticipation of today’s ceremony, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) has positioned its outside broadcast (OB) van at the Villa, signalling plans for live coverage of the event.
D’Tigress are expected to arrive to a hero’s welcome, as the nation continues to bask in the glow of yet another sporting achievement.
Their latest success not only reinforces Nigeria’s leadership in African women’s basketball but also highlights the growing influence of female athletes on the global stage.
