Afolabi Gambari
Many had favoured the D’Tigress to retain the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title at the championship held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, having won it four times and especially thrice consecutively before the latest edition. Although they struggled in their earlier games in Abidjan, but still rallied to victory without conceding a single defeat, and the tide changed by the time they dumped Cameroon in the quarterfinals. Nigerians from around the world suddenly sounded a passionate note to President Bola Tinubu to brace up for another African title win by a Nigerian team after the Super Falcons’ recent feat at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The note was also followed by an appeal to Mr. President to reward the basketballers in the same manner that their football counterparts were rewarded after he received them in Abuja on July 28.
By the time D’Tigress defeated Senegal in the semifinals and set a date with Mali in the final on August 2, even Tinubu could not help but acknowledge their prowess and resolve to bring the trophy home. Mali fell 78-64 in the final, as expected, and the question emerged: how will Tinubu reward D’Tigress? The team must have got the feeling of what awaited them at the Presidential Villa on arrival at the Abuja airport on August 3 when they saw a sea of heads as they alighted from the aircraft and meandered through a cheering crowd before being driven in a motorcade to the villa. Yet, there was suspense among the players and officials
The president, who was represented at the reception by Vice President Kashim Shettima, rose to the occasion as expected. He announced a reward of $100,000 for each of the players and an additional $50,000 members of the technical crew. Each player and official in the team also got the reward of a flat in the Federal Capital Territory. In addition, they were all rewarded with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). Tinubu, who was unavoidably absent, was also ably represented by the First Lady, who only a week earlier was also on hand to receive the Falcons. Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, chairmen of the Senate and House committees on youths and sports development, Senator Garba Maidoki and Hon Kabiru Ahmadou, joined in the reception, while the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, also attended.
The Federal Government has yet to gazette a reward system for the country’s sports representation. However, not a few have reckoned the latest efforts as a new dawn for sports in Nigeria. Many would have thought the Nigerian representatives in the ongoing Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, the Super Eagles B, would have smelt the “wind of change” and intensified their effort at winning an African title as well with a view to scooping a similar largesse. At any rate, Nigeria is yet to win the CHAN title despite two previous appearances, one of which the country lost in the final. But they lost their opening Group D game 1-0 to title holders Senegal on August 5. The Eagles B have another date with Congo on August 12 to rediscover their quest towards reaping from the “new order” at home.
