Nigerian Cricket Team Embarks on International Training for 2026 T20 World Cup
Five players from the Nigeria senior men’s cricket team are currently undergoing international training programs in different countries to improve their skills ahead of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup qualifiers. This initiative aims to enhance the team’s performance and prepare them for upcoming challenges on the global stage.
Among the players, Isaac Okpe, Elijah Olaleye, and Selim Salau will be traveling to Zimbabwe’s domestic league from August 2 to September 14. This opportunity will allow them to gain exposure to high-level competition and refine their abilities under challenging conditions. Meanwhile, Sulaimon Runsewe and Isaac Danladi are set to join a high-performance training program in South Africa, where they will focus on sharpening their technical and tactical skills.
These training programs come at a crucial time for the Nigerian team, as they recently concluded their participation in the Pearl of Africa T20 Series in Uganda. The Yellow Greens ended the tournament with a six-wicket loss to Kenya on Sunday, marking the end of their campaign with just one win in six matches. Their only victory came against Namibia on Friday, when they managed to defend a target of 105 runs, losing nine wickets in the process. Namibia finished at 99/8 in a closely contested match.
Despite being the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, Nigeria faced strong opposition from more established teams such as Kenya, Uganda, the UAE, and Namibia. These encounters highlighted the need for the team to strengthen certain areas of their game if they are to compete effectively in future tournaments.
The upcoming ICC Men’s Africa T20 World Cup Qualifier is scheduled to take place in Zimbabwe from September 28 to October 4. This event will serve as a critical test for the Nigerian team as they aim to secure a spot in the 2026 T20 World Cup, which is set to be held in India and Sri Lanka between February and March 2026.
The Nigeria Cricket Federation has emphasized that this tournament is not just about immediate results but also about long-term development. “Beyond the results, this tournament is a stepping stone in Nigeria’s long-term cricket development strategy,” the federation stated in a recent release.
As the team continues to build depth and experience through international exposure and structured training, there is growing optimism about the future of Nigerian cricket. With a combination of talent, resilience, and the right developmental support, the men’s team is steadily making progress on the African cricket scene.
Although the Yellow Greens may have started their journey slowly, their current efforts suggest that they are on an upward trajectory. The international training programs represent a significant step forward in their quest to become a stronger force in regional and global cricket.