Nigeria Triumphs at FIBA Women’s AfroBasket, Defeats Mali 78-64
Nigeria has claimed victory at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship — regarded as the pinnacle of African women’s basketball — by defeating Mali 78-64.
With this win, the Nigerian team has secured qualification for next year’s FIBA Women’s World Cup.
LAVISH REWARDS PROMISED TO PLAYERS
Each member of the championship-winning squad, who competed in the tournament held in Ivory Coast, will receive a cash prize of approximately $100,000.
But the rewards don’t stop there. During a special reception held in honour of the team, Vice President Kashim Shettima announced that each player would also be given a three-bedroom apartment.
In addition, the team’s coaching and technical crew will each receive $50,000 and a flat as part of the recognition.
These developments once again highlight Nigeria’s growing commitment to supporting women’s sports. Just recently, players who won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) were similarly rewarded.
UNFULFILLED PROMISES SPARK CRITICISM
However, public reactions to such generous prize promises have been mixed.
Given the country’s difficult economic situation, critics argue that these kinds of incentives may not be sustainable in the long term.
There have also been concerns due to past instances where similar pledges were either never fulfilled or took decades to be honoured.
For example, members of the Nigerian national team that won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 1994 only received their promised rewards 31 years later. Tragically, some of those players passed away before ever receiving what was promised to them.