Nigeria’s senior men’s cricket team, the Yellow Greens, are intensifying their preparations for the first phase of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup qualifiers. The Africa Sub-Region Qualifier C will take place from November 21 to 28 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, featuring the twin oval facilities.

The Yellow Greens, under head coach and Nigeria Cricket Federation high-performance manager Steve Tikolo, are set to face Botswana, Eswatini, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, and Saint Helena. The top two teams from this phase will progress to the final qualification round, moving closer to the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The team’s preparations have been bolstered by the return of Isaac Okpe, Isaac Danladi, and Chiemele Udekewe, who recently competed in the Zimbabwe Elite League. Tikolo is expected to finalize the squad soon.

Reflecting on the team’s recent bilateral series against Kenya, Tikolo expressed optimism, noting significant improvements in Nigeria’s cricket performance. “The cricket fraternity in Kenya was impressed by our fearless and positive brand of cricket. It’s a huge step forward for Nigerian cricket,” Tikolo stated.

Nigeria is one of three countries hosting the sub-regional qualifiers, with the earlier phases held in Tanzania and Kenya. The ultimate goal is to secure one of two spots alongside South Africa as Africa’s representatives at the 2026 World Cup.