Members of Nigeria’s national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have each been promised \$100,000 and a three-bedroom apartment following their recent victory at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship in Ivory Coast. The team secured their seventh continental title with a 78–64 win over Mali, earning them a place at next year’s FIBA Women’s World Cup. At a special reception in Abuja, Vice-President Kashim Shettima also announced \$50,000 rewards and flats for the team’s coaching and technical staff. The accolades come as part of a growing recognition of the country’s female athletes, who President Bola Tinubu praised for consistently making Nigeria proud.
However, the fanfare has been tempered by public scepticism, with many Nigerians questioning whether the government will deliver on its promises. Past experiences, such as the 31-year delay in fulfilling housing rewards to the victorious 1994 Super Eagles squad—some of whom passed away before receiving their entitlements—have fuelled doubts. Critics argue that such generous financial gestures are unsustainable given the country’s economic challenges, while others see them as overdue recognition. The broader concern remains whether these symbolic rewards will materialise or join the long list of unfulfilled pledges.