By Eze Nnadi

The federal government has redeemed its financial and house pledges to the players and officials of both the Super Falcons and D’Tigress football and basketball teams, following their victories at the 2025 Women African Football Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and Federation of International Africa Basketball (FIBA) Women Afrobasket championship.

The National Sports Commission, in a statement on Thursday, confirmed the payment of the naira equivalent of $100,000 to each player of Nigeria’s senior women’s football and basketball team, as part of the Presidential Reward for their victory at the 2025 WAFCON and FIBA Women’s Afrobasket.

The commission also confirmed the payment of the naira equivalent of $50,000 to each of the two team’s officials.

The statement further noted that 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., while the Super Falcons, who recently crashed out of the 2026 edition of WAFCON, won a record tenth championship last year.

The commission said the payment completed all components of the rewards promised to members of the team by President Bola Tinubu.

The NSC, in a statement signed by its Director of Information and Public Relations, Kehinde Ajayi, said the Presidential Rewards comprised three-bedroom flats in Abuja, national honours of the Order of the Niger and the cash payments.

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 the president of the Federal Republic, Bola Tinubu.

The statement said, “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.

“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.”

The President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), Dr Ademola Are, has commended the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) for its proactive support for national teams preparing to represent Nigeria at international competitions.

NRFF media department said in a statement issued on Thursday that Are spoke on the sidelines of the ongoing World Rugby Level 1 and 2 medical, coaching and match officiating course in Abuja, where he praised NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and Director-General, Bukola Olopade, for creating what he described as an enabling environment for sports federations to thrive. He particularly acknowledged the Commission’s support for national teams across different sports, stressing that the approach has boosted preparations for international competitions.

The NRFF President said the Stallions are currently preparing for the World Rugby Sevens 3 competition in Uganda and have received the necessary backing from the NSC to put the team in the best possible shape. “We are preparing for the World Rugby Sevens 3 in Uganda, and we have received the needed support from the National Sports Commission for our preparation. It has never been this good,” Are said.

He added that Olopade had, upon assuming office, promised to support all sports federations and was already living up to that commitment. “The Director-General, on assumption of office, promised to give support to all federations, and he is living up to that promise. We hope to make the country proud in Uganda,” he said.

While acknowledging the quality of opposition awaiting Nigeria, Are expressed confidence that the Stallions can defy expectations and secure a place on the global stage. “We know it is going to be tough, but we have a very good chance of punching above our weight and picking the World Rugby Sevens 3 ticket,” he added.

In Uganda, the Stallions will battle hosts Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, Tunisia, Morocco and Senegal for the coveted qualification ticket. The tournament will also serve as the opening leg of the 2026 Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens Series, with the winner earning qualification for the World Rugby SVNS 3 2027 competition.

Former Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfielder, Yaya Touré has described  players of Paris Saint German, PSG, as playing like machines in the team’s 6-1 pounding of his Slovan Bratislava side in their Champions League opener

Touré, who made history as the first African manager to lead an European side in the Champions League league phase, watched PSG take control of the game and punish Slovan whenever space opened up at the Parc des Stadium 

Ferran Torres scored three times, while Ousmane Dembélé added two goals and Fabián Ruiz completed the rout as the reigning European champions turned the match into a one-sided contest.

Touré noted thstthe quality of Luis Enrique’s team was the biggest lesson of the night.

“They are a machine,” he said. “Defence, midfield, attack they’re complete. You can’t press them. They know each other so well. It’s not easy. They hurt you.”

The Ivorian did not hide his admiration for the way Enrique has put the PSG side together, particularly their movement and ability to attack with numbers.

“I’d like to copy everything about this PSG. It’s incredible. Seeing the way Luis Enrique has built this team… they have everything from back to front. They are always in numbers, they move so well.”

Touré  emphasised that his players should not leave Paris feeling ashamed of the result, noting that, the 6-1 scoreline reflected the gap between a developing Slovan team and a PSG squad packed with elite talent.

“We have no regrets. We played against a stronger team tonight. My players gave everything. The gap is considerable between the two sides. When you face a team that is better than you, you understand it.”

The former Ivory Coast international went further by backing PSG to remain serious contenders for the trophy. He pointed to the depth of their squad and the number of players capable of deciding matches.

“PSG will come close to winning this trophy again. They are so strong in every aspect of the game. There are nine or ten Ballon d’Or nominees in that squad. The danger comes from everywhere.” The former Ivory Coast international noted