Nigeria’s national cricket team, known as the Yellow Greens, is set to participate in the second edition of the Pearl of Africa T20 series, a significant tournament on their road to the 2026 T20 World Cup. This tournament, hosted by Uganda from July 17th to 27th, 2025, provides a crucial platform for the team to hone their skills and strategies against formidable opponents, including Uganda, Kenya, Namibia, and the United Arab Emirates. The Yellow Greens will be eager to showcase their progress and build momentum as they approach the crucial World Cup qualifiers later in the year. The tournament’s format, a double round-robin, ensures each team plays every other team twice, maximizing the opportunities for competitive gameplay and strategic adjustments.
Head Coach Steve Tikolo has announced a 14-man squad for the tournament, blending experienced players with promising newcomers. Captain Sylvester Okpe will lead the team, relying on the seasoned skills of players like Sulaimon Runsewe, Selim Salau, Solomon Chilemanya, Elijah Olaleye, Isaac Danladi, Akhere Isesele, Isaac Okpe, Vincent Adewoye, Peter Aho, Mohammed Taiwo, and Prosper Useni. Adding to the excitement are debutants David Ankrah and Jimoh Abdulrahman, who will be eager to make their mark on the international stage. This blend of experience and fresh talent provides a dynamic balance to the squad, offering both stability and the potential for exciting breakthroughs.
The Pearl of Africa T20 series serves as a crucial stepping-stone for Nigeria’s World Cup aspirations. The tournament provides invaluable experience against high-quality opposition, allowing the team to assess their strengths and weaknesses under pressure. The double round-robin format allows for tactical adjustments and experimentation, enabling the coaching staff to refine strategies and identify the most effective combinations. Furthermore, the tournament offers an opportunity for individual players to shine and solidify their positions within the team, creating healthy competition and driving performance levels higher.
Nigeria’s campaign in the Pearl of Africa T20 series kicks off with a match against Kenya on Thursday, July 18th, followed by a clash against hosts Uganda the following day. The weekend brings further challenges with matches against Namibia on Saturday and the UAE on Sunday, completing the first round of the double round-robin format. These initial matches will set the tone for Nigeria’s tournament performance, providing crucial early insights into the team’s dynamics and the effectiveness of their game plan. The second round of matches will offer opportunities to build on successes, address shortcomings, and fine-tune strategies for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Beyond the immediate goal of performing well in the Pearl of Africa T20 series, Nigeria has its sights firmly set on the 2026 T20 World Cup, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The team has already taken a significant step towards qualification by topping Group B in the Africa qualifier last year. The upcoming final round of qualifiers, scheduled for Zimbabwe from September 28th to October 4th, 2025, represents the final hurdle for African teams aiming to reach the World Cup. The Pearl of Africa T20 series serves as an ideal preparatory ground for this crucial qualifier, allowing the team to gain valuable match practice and refine their strategies against a variety of opponents.
The Yellow Greens’ participation in the Pearl of Africa T20 series signifies their commitment to elevating Nigerian cricket on the global stage. The tournament provides a platform to showcase their talent, build momentum, and gain invaluable experience in preparation for the World Cup qualifiers. The combination of seasoned players and exciting new additions creates a sense of optimism and potential, while the challenging competition offers a chance to refine strategies and solidify team cohesion. The Yellow Greens are determined to make their mark in Ugandan and carry that momentum forward to secure a coveted spot in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
