Nigeria’s senior men’s cricket team, the Yellow Greens, commenced their training camp in Lagos on Tuesday, intensifying preparations for two major international tournaments, the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup qualifiers and the 2025 ILT20 Cup.
The team is poised to compete in the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe from September 28 to October 4, 2025, with the main event scheduled for India and Sri Lanka in February and March 2026. Additionally, the Yellow Greens will participate in the ILT20 Cup in Uganda from July 13 to 30, 2025.
Under the guidance of head coach and Nigeria Cricket Federation high-performance manager Steve Tikolo, a 21-man squad has been called up for the intensive training camp.
Leading the team is captain Sylvester Okpe, joined by seasoned players such as wicketkeeper Sulaimon Runsewe, Isaac Danladi, Daniel Ajekun, Ridwan Kareem, Peter Aho, Isaac Okpe, Chimelie Udekwe, and Prosper Useni.
The squad also includes Selim Salau, Mohammed Taiwo, Vincent Adewoye, Akhere Isesele, Solomon Chilemanya, Elijah Olaleye, Elijah Saturday, Ifeanyi Uboh, David Ankarak, Jimoh Abdulrahman, Beki Mubarak, and Elochukwu Ndubudem, all vying for spots in the final lineup.
The Yellow Greens earned their place in the final round of the World Cup qualifiers after dominating Group B in the Africa qualifiers last year. In Zimbabwe, they will face stiff competition from Namibia, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Botswana, with only two African teams advancing to the 2026 T20 World Cup, where 13 teams have already secured their spots.
The team’s rigorous training in Lagos underscores their determination to make a mark on the global stage. With high stakes in both the World Cup qualifiers and the ILT20 Cup, the Yellow Greens are focused on fine-tuning their skills and strategies to bring glory to Nigeria.
Fans eagerly await their performance as they aim to solidify their reputation in international cricket.