Côte d’Ivoire has rewarded its young basketball players after their historic triumph at the FIBA U18 AfroBasket. The government announced a total package of 200 million CFA francs ($350,000) for the men’s and women’s U18 teams and the Ivorian Basketball Federation (FIBB), during a ceremony held at the Prime Minister’s office in Abidjan on Thursday.

The Elephanteaux secured their first-ever U18 African title on Aug. 16, defeating Senegal 73-51 in the final at the Palais des Sports in Treichville. The Ivorian team completed the tournament unbeaten, winning all six of its games on its way to the trophy.

Nathan Djako was one of the key figures behind the victory and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. He scored 22 points in the final as Côte d’Ivoire dominated Senegal and secured the continental crown on home soil.

Under the government’s reward package, each player on the men’s U18 team will receive 5 million CFA francs. The FIBB will receive 60 million CFA francs, while members of the coaching and support staff will also receive financial rewards. The women’s U18 team, which finished fourth in its competition, will also receive bonuses.

The victory represents a major milestone for Ivorian basketball. It is the country’s first U18 men’s AfroBasket title and comes more than four decades after Côte d’Ivoire’s last continental championship at senior level, in 1985.

The success in front of a home crowd has renewed attention on the development of young basketball talent in Côte d’Ivoire and gives the country a new generation of continental champions to build on.