FG Pays $100,000 Each to D’Tigress Players for Fifth Afrobasket Triumph

The National Sports Commission has confirmed that each player of Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has received the naira equivalent of $100,000 as part of the Presidential Reward for their historic victory at the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket. The commission also confirmed the payment of the naira equivalent of $50,000 to each of the team’s officials. The accounts of the players and officials were credited on September 9, 2026, with the NSC saying all recipients had confirmed receipt of the funds. D’Tigress won the FIBA Women’s Afrobasket title for a record fifth consecutive time and seventh overall in 2025.The commission said the payment completed all components of the rewards promised to members of the team by President Bola Tinubu. In a statement signed by its Director of Information and Public Relations, Kehinde Ajayi, on Wednesday, the NSC said the Presidential Rewards comprised three-bedroom flats in Abuja, national honours of the Order of the Niger and the cash payments. “With the payment, the entire presidential rewards promised to each member of the team by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR comprising a 3-Bedroom flat in Abuja, national honours of OON and Naira equivalent of $USD 100,000 to players and $USD 50,000 to officials have been fully redeemed and completed,” the statement said. The commission recalled that the players and officials received the title documents for their three-bedroom apartments in Abuja and certificates of national honours in February 2026 during the FIBA World Cup qualifiers in Lyon, France. The NSC said the documents were duly signed by Tinubu.It added that the cash payment followed the team’s participation in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany. The commission also disclosed that the Super Falcons, who were similarly promised Presidential Rewards, had received title documents for their three-bedroom apartments in Abuja and certificates of national honours. It said the Falcons received the documents during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in July and August 2026, adding that the cash component of their reward was expected to be paid before their next official engagements. The commission said the Super Falcons were promised the same cash rewards of the naira equivalent of $100,000 for each player and $50,000 for each official. It said the rewards were part of the Federal Government’s effort to prioritise the welfare of Nigerian athletes. The statement said, “This unprecedented rewards to the players and athletes by the Federal Government of Nigeria is in alignment with the Renewed Hope initiative and Shared Prosperity agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR which places athletes’ welfare and appropriate rewards top on the priority list. ”The commission thanked Tinubu for his support for Nigerian sports, saying his policies had given impetus to its reform agenda and efforts to develop a sustainable sports economy. It also appreciated the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for their collaboration in implementing the rewards. The NSC said the collaboration ensured that the Presidential Rewards were implemented “in record time within the due process requirements.”

2026 WC Qualifiers: 18 Players in Camp as Super Eagles begin Morocco Final Push

  The Super Eagles’ camp has officially opened in Rabat, Morocco, ahead of Thursday’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup CAF playoff against Gabon, with 18 players already on the ground as preparations intensify. The team confirmed the development in a post on its official X handle on Tuesday, sharing the full list of arrivals under the caption “Eagles in Camp.” Those in Morocco include Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Tolu Arokodare, Olakunle Olusegun, Wilfred Ndidi, Moses Simon, William Troost-Ekong, Benjamin Fredericks, Chidozie Awaziem, Amas Obasogie, Stanley Nwabali, Semi Ajayi, Ademola Lookman, Akor Adams, Chidera Ejuke, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Raphael Onyedika. Team officials and the first batch of players arrived at the Rive Hotel, Rabat, on Sunday afternoon, signalling the start of the final phase of preparations for the decisive fixture. The team’s media officer, Promise Efoghe, earlier confirmed that early arrivals included the trio of Bassey, Iwobi, and Chukwueze, alongside Arokodare and Olusegun. Head coach, Eric Chelle, had named a 24-man squad for the playoffs, featuring a blend of returning stars and consistent performers. Udinese goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, and Sevilla winger, Chidera Ejuke, both earned recalls after strong club performances this season. Nigeria will face Gabon in Thursday’s semi-final clash, while Cameroon will battle the Democratic Republic of Congo in the other fixture at the El-Barid Stadium, also in Rabat. Winners of both matches will meet in the final on November 16 to determine who advances to the inter-confederation playoffs for a place at the 2026 World Cup in North America. The Super Eagles, who last featured at the global tournament in 2018, are aiming to reclaim their place on football’s biggest stage after missing out on the 2022 edition in Qatar.

13 Super Eagles Players Arrive Camp for World Cup Qualifiers

  The number of players in the Super Eagles’ camp has increased to 13, as Nigeria intensifies preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa. This follows the arrival of nine more players at the team’s camp in Ikot Ikpene on Tuesday, according to Promise Efoghe, the team’s media officer. The new arrivals include Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Ola Aina, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Moses Simon, Chidozie Awaziem, Adebayo Adeleye, and Benjamin Fredericks. They joined the quartet of William Troost-Ekong, Amas Obasogie, Felix Agu, and Raphael Onyedika, who checked into camp on Monday. Efoghe confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria that out of the 23 players who were invited for the double-header fixtures, only 13 had arrived, with 10 more players still being expected. “A total of 13 players are currently in camp, and we are expecting the rest of the squad to arrive later today and early tomorrow,” Efoghe said. He also shared details of the team’s upcoming media engagements. “There will be a press conference with the coaching staff and selected players on Wednesday at the training pitch of the Godswill Akpabio Stadium,” Efoghe stated. “For Friday, the pre-match press conference will holbe held the same venue, and the first 15 minutes of the team’s training session will be open to media coverage.” Players still beiexpected to be included arealkeeper Stanley Nwabali; defender Bruno Onyemaechi; midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka; and forwards Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Cyriel Dessers, Christantus Uche, and Tolu Arokodare. Nigeria will host Rwanda on Friday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, in a Matchday 7 fixture. They will then travel to Bloemfontein to face South Africa on Monday, in a Matchday 8 encounter. The Super Eagles currently sit third in Group C of the African qualifiers with two points from two matches, behind leaders South Africa (four points) and Rwanda (also four points but with an inferior goal difference). Only the top team in the group will qualify automatically for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Full 23-Man Squad: Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece). Defenders: William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England); Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France); Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium). Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio, Italy); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Christantus Uche (Getafe, Spain). Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey); Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Cyriel Dessers (Rangers, Scotland); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium). (NAN)