Abuja: D’Tigress captain Amy Okonkwo has highlighted the significance of the team’s historic victory at the Afrobasket Championship, emphasizing its potential to inspire young girls in Nigeria and around the world to take up basketball. Okonkwo made these remarks during a reception hosted by President Bola Tinubu at the State House, celebrating the team’s achievement of securing a record fifth consecutive and seventh overall Afrobasket title in C´te d’Ivoire.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the D’Tigress team defeated Mali 78-64 in the final of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship, maintaining their unbeaten streak and asserting their dominance on the continental stage. Okonkwo, who was honored as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, expressed her gratitude to President Tinubu and his team for their warm reception and support.
In her speech, Okonkwo conveyed her appreciation on behalf of the team, stating, “We’re thankful to be able to continue our excellence in our sport, the gift that God gave us. It means the world to us to be hosted here today.” She emphasized that the team’s continued success would serve as a beacon of inspiration for the next generation of female athletes globally, encouraging young girls to aspire to achieve similar feats.
Okonkwo also lauded the collective effort of the team’s support system, acknowledging the contributions of staff, coaches, and officials. “I give thanks to every one of our staff, the GM, coach, doctors, President (NBBF) Chairman (NSC), everybody. We thank you all for your support,” she stated, underscoring the importance of their ongoing encouragement in the team’s journey.
Looking ahead, Okonkwo expressed confidence that this milestone victory would propel the team to aim even higher, particularly on the World Cup stage. “With this victory, I don’t think the sky is our limit. I think we can go beyond and we can break barriers,” she affirmed.
The News Agency of Nigeria further reports that with the victory, D’Tigress secured a spot at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, Germany, scheduled for Sept. 4 to Sept. 13. This win marks their 29th consecutive victory in Afrobasket, a streak that began in 2015 in Yaound©, Cameroon.
During the reception, President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, announced a reward of $100,000 for each team member, a flat for each, and the national honor of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), acknowledging their remarkable achievements and contributions to the country’s sporting legacy.
