D'Tigress AfroBasket champions: Nigeria's female basketball players promised $100,000 cash award and apartment
Members of D'Tigress's coaching and technical crew were also promised $50,000 each and a flat."Nigerian women have never failed this nation in sports. From the Super Falcons standing tall on the world stage, to our athletes breaking records on the track, and D'Tigress building a basketball dynasty, our women have consistently made us proud," President Bola Tinubu said in a statement."To all our young people watching today, let the story of D'Tigress remind you that greatness is a product of hard work, discipline, and belief. Nigeria belongs to those who dare to dream and are willing to give their best to make those dreams a reality."There have been been mixed reactions to the promises of cash prizes - with some feeling it is unsustainable considering the country's troubled economy.Though the question on the lips of most Nigerians is: how long will it take for them all to get their rewards?Previous promises like this have taken years to come to fruition.Two months ago, the government finally fulfilled its 31-year-old pledge to give houses to the 1994 Super Eagles football squad after they won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.Some members of that team, including Nigeria's all-time highest goal scorer Rashidi Yekini and then-captain Stephen Keshi, died before receiving the promised reward.
More BBC stories on Nigeria:
I no longer identify as Nigerian, Badenoch saysAid cuts will push Nigerians into arms of Boko Haram militants, UN warnsBuhari - the austere Nigerian military ruler who defeated a sitting president
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Prince Harry among those criticised in report on dispute at Sentebale charity
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
NOW WE'RE COOKING WITH GASS: Russell Martin praises Rangers for responding to weekend rebuke in emphatic fashion ... as Djeidi Gassama double helps sink Viktoria Plzen
Russell Martin hailed Rangers ' performance in Tuesday night's 3-0 victory over Viktoria Plzen as the most complete since he took charge of the club. Djeidi Gassama's double - making it four goals in three consecutive European games for the winger - and a Cyriel Dessers penalty capped a much improved display by the side following Saturday's lacklustre showing at Motherwell. It vindicated Martin's furious reaction to the 1-1 draw, when he criticised the big egos of some players, with skipper James Tavernier and midfielder Nico Raskin left out as part of four changes made to the team that faced the Czechs. Savouring a fine performance, especially from new £3million signing Oliver Antman on the right flank, Martin said: 'It was the most put-together performance we've had, for sure, with the ball and without. 'The reaction to losing the ball was great. We moved the ball much quicker, a shorter distance, found the spare man, [made] runs in behind a lot more than what we've had in the last few games. 'But we are going to get much better than that. I'm really pleased but there's so much to do, so much to work on. 'It's still so early but, for the guys to put on a performance like that, after a difficult time on Saturday in a game which means so much, I'm really proud of them. 'I'm just annoyed at the last 15 minutes when we dropped a bit of intensity but it's understandable with the schedule we've had. 'Hopefully the team and the fans felt a bit more of what it should be like and what it's going to look like when the team starts getting into flow. 'The players have bought in to what we're trying to do but hopefully they felt enough to really convince them it's going to be worthwhile and it can help us win a lot.' After reading the riot act at the weekend, Martin was asked about the omissions of Tavernier and Raskin, who came off the bench in the second half. 'Danilo and [Kieran] Dowell came out as well,' he said. 'No one person is harder (to leave out) than another in terms of the conversation. 'It's not easy when you care about the players and you want them to do well, but I'm always honest with them on why they're coming out. They don't have to agree but hopefully they respect a bit of honesty. 'Their reaction said everything when they came on the pitch. Did it feel like big decisions? No, I don't see it like that. 'I judge every moment now. We spoke about everyone having a clean slate so, what went on before, I had no control over. 'It's not personal, it's about what was best for us tonight.' Antman's eye-catching debut came less than 48 hours after he completed his switch from Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles. He came close to scoring midway through the first half, only to see his first-time effort cleared off the line, but quickly won the penalty which doubled Rangers' advantage before providing the assist for Gassama to head home his second and Rangers' third. Praising the Finn, Martin said: 'Gilly [Matt Gilks, assistant manager] sat down with Olly at half-time and he'd been battered with video stuff after a long 48 hours. In the first half he wanted a lot of touches but, in the second, he was devastating with so many runs in behind. 'I'm really pleased with him because we've picked out some bits and he's taken it into the game.' The win puts Rangers in a commanding position ahead of next week's second leg, with the winner facing Club Brugge or Salzburg for a place in the Champions League.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Boris Johnson hails US plan to deport hundreds of illegal migrants to Rwanda
The US has agreed a deal to deport hundreds of illegal migrants to Rwanda. Washington has already sent an initial list of ten people to be vetted as part of President Donald Trump 's bid to tackle illegal immigration. Under the terms of the deal, Rwanda will accept up to 250 migrants in exchange for payment – in an agreement similar to that brokered by Boris Johnson. When he was prime minister, Mr Johnson agreed a deal with Kigali under which anyone who entered Britain illegally would be sent to Rwanda. But due to legal challenges, no migrants had been successfully deported by the time Keir Starmer won the election last year. Sir Keir's first act as the incoming Labour PM was to scrap the scheme. Since then, small-boat arrivals have increased dramatically. As of July 30, more than 25,000 people had crossed the Channel in small boats in 2025 – a figure about 50 per cent higher than it was at the same point in 2024. Mr Johnson said that Sir Keir had scrapped the scheme out of 'Left-wing spite' and should reinstate it. He told the Daily Mail: 'Here is proof, if ever it were needed, that Starmer was very sadly misguided in abandoning the Rwanda scheme. 'It would certainly have worked and it would have scuppered the cross-Channel gangs. 'It is heartbreaking to see other countries now taking advantage – yet again – of ideas pioneered by Britain. 'Starmer scrapped Rwanda purely out of Left-wing spite – and he should restore it as soon as possible.' The White House has not yet commented. But commenting on the deal yesterday, Kigali said that it would accept migrants under certain conditions and rehome them. 'Rwanda has agreed with the United States to accept up to 250 migrants, in part because nearly every Rwandan family has experienced the hardships of displacement, and our societal values are founded on reintegration and rehabilitation,' said Rwandan government spokesman Yolande Makolo. 'Under the agreement, Rwanda has the ability to approve each individual proposed for resettlement. President Donald Trump listens as Rwanda's Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe speaks during a event with Congo's Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, June 27, 2025, in the Oval Office 'Those approved will be provided with workforce training, healthcare and accommodation support to jumpstart their lives in Rwanda, giving them the opportunity to contribute to one of the fastest-growing economies in the world over the last decade.' In June, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to deport migrants to third countries, though there are continuing lawsuits. The President has vowed to deport millions of illegal immigrants to third countries. Mr Trump has already struck similar deals with South Sudan and Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland. In March, he deported more than 200 Venezuelans accused of being gang members to El Salvador.
