Nigeria’s men’s senior cricket team, the Yellow Greens, are intensifying their preparations for the initial stage of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup qualifiers.
This phase will be hosted in Abuja at the twin oval of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
Scheduled from November 21 to 28, the Africa Sub-Region Qualifier C will take place in Nigeria, as the path to India and Sri Lanka 2026 narrows.
Training is underway in Abuja under the supervision of head coach and high-performance manager, Steve Tikolo, from the Nigeria Cricket Federation. The Yellow Greens are set to compete against Botswana, Eswatini, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, and Saint Helena, aiming for a spot in the next qualifying round.
In the coming days, coach Tikolo is expected to announce his final squad for the tournament. Among the players joining the camp are Isaac Okpe, Isaac Danladi, and Chiemele Udekewe, who recently participated in the Zimbabwe Elite League.
Earlier this year, the team engaged in a bilateral series with Kenya, playing in both the ODI 50-over and T20 20-over formats.
Coach Tikolo expressed optimism about his team’s performance, noting the growth potential.
“This series offered numerous lessons for the future, but there were also many positives on our side. The cricket community in Kenya appreciated the dynamic and fearless style of play demonstrated by our team. Many were surprised by Nigeria’s approach, recognizing significant progress in Nigerian cricket,” Tikolo stated.
Nigeria was chosen as one of three hosts for the sub-regional qualifiers earlier this year, with previous rounds already completed in Tanzania and Kenya.
The top two teams from each sub-regional qualifier will advance to the final phase, where two nations will earn their spots alongside South Africa as Africa’s representatives at the 2026 World Cup.
