Head coach of the Yellow Greens and high-performance manager of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Steve Tikolo, has expressed strong confidence in the progress of Nigeria’s senior men’s national cricket team as they gear up for two crucial international tournaments—the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup qualifiers and the ILT20 Cup.
The team resumed intensive training last week at the Tafawa Balewa Square Oval in Onikan, Lagos, where 21 players are currently being drilled in preparation for the regional qualifiers in Zimbabwe scheduled for September 28 to October 4.
Prior to that, they will participate in the ILT20 Cup in Uganda, from July 13 to 30, offering an opportunity to sharpen their competitive edge.
Speaking to PUNCH Sports Extra, Tikolo highlighted the positive atmosphere in camp and praised the cohesion among the squad. “The progress is good in terms of our training and we also have an international tournament coming up before the qualifiers,” said Tikolo. “This will allow us some time to build on our momentum from the last qualifiers.”
Nigeria secured their place in the final round of qualifiers after clinching victory at the Africa Sub-Region C qualifiers last year.
They now face tough competition from Namibia, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Botswana for a place at the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka in February and March of that year.
Tikolo, a former Kenyan national captain who took charge of Nigeria’s cricket program in October 2023, is optimistic about the development of the game in the country.
“The cohesion has been great, especially now that most of our players have been exposed to leagues outside Nigeria (Zimbabwe). We hope to build on all of these.”
Reflecting on the broader progress under his tenure, Tikolo remarked, “The last two and half years have been productive, not just with the men’s national team but with other age-grade teams as well, especially the females. I dare say that we are on a fast lane and getting closer to our objectives as a country.”
With a blend of local talent and international exposure, the Yellow Greens are aiming to make history by qualifying for their first-ever T20 World Cup appearance.
Expectations are high, but under Tikolo’s stewardship, there is growing belief that Nigeria can emerge as a serious cricketing force in Africa.
As the countdown to both tournaments begins, the team’s performances in the ILT20 Cup will serve as a vital litmus test for their readiness to battle some of Africa’s best in Zimbabwe.
