Tinubu Ignores Pastor Adeboye’s Advice After Rewarding D’Tigress Players $100,000 Each
- President Bola Tinubu has gifted D’Tigress players $100,000 each, plus national honours and new homes
- The D’Tigress’ coaching crew received $50,000 each, falling short of Pastor Adeboye’s suggested equal reward
- The RCCG General Overseer had emphasised the value of coaches' wisdom and strategic input in team success
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President Bola Tinubu has honoured Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, with generous rewards after their record-setting fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title.
The team, led by coach Rena Wakama, secured their historic victory on Sunday in Abidjan, defeating Mali 78-64 after overcoming a slow start.
Source: Twitter
The win meant D’Tigress secured their seventh AfroBasket title overall, cementing their place as Africa’s basketball powerhouse.
According to the Vanguard, each player received a cash reward of $100,000, along with a bedroom flat at the Renewed Hope Estate and the prestigious national title of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
Vice President Kashim Shettima made the announcement on Monday evening at a special reception held for the team at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.
The coaching and technical crew, comprising 11 members, were each awarded $50,000 and also received the same national honours and accommodation as the players.
Tinubu ignores Pastor Adeboye’s advice
Meanwhile, President Tinubu’s reward distribution has stirred a subtle controversy, following a public plea from Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
Source: Getty Images
In his Sunday sermon, Pastor Adeboye emphasised the important role of coaches and technical staff in any team’s success, Punch reports.
Drawing from biblical principles and life wisdom, he stated:
“You need a coach to win; coaches have the knowledge and wisdom required to win. If you don’t know how to win, you will lose.”
Adeboye further argued that the strategic input of coaches is often more critical than physical effort on the field.
“Wisdom is better than strength,” he said, while suggesting that coaches should earn equal, if not greater, rewards than players. His comments came just a day before the rewards were officially announced.
Mixed reactions after D'Tigress rewards
While Tinubu’s grand gesture has been widely praised for recognising women’s sports and motivating athletes, critics have noted the President’s decision to give the coaching crew half the reward offered to the players, despite Adeboye’s timely advice.
Many observers believe this could reignite the broader debate over the undervaluation of coaching and backroom staff in Nigerian sports.
Supporters of the President, however, argue that the $50,000 reward, along with national honours and accommodations, still represents significant recognition, especially compared to past governments.
The celebration of D’Tigress follows closely after a similar state reception for the Super Falcons, who won their record-extending 10th WAFCON title in Morocco.
These back-to-back honours signal a shift in the administration’s attitude toward supporting female athletes and rewarding excellence.
Reactions as Tinubu confers honour on D’Tigress
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that President Bola Tinubu has splashed cash and conferred national honours on the women's basketball team, D’Tigress, for winning the 2025 Women’s FIBA Afrobasket.
@adeyanju_f83140 posted: "When the federal government rewarded the Nigerians who represented the country in the just concluded sports festival with such a huge amount of money, and those gallant soldiers who defended the country, which is the major contribution to our dear country, were not even compensated."
Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
