Cricket: Nigeria coach calls 35 players for Namibia Tri-Series

Stephen Mangongo, the newly appointed coach and High Performance Manager for Nigeria’s national men’s cricket team, has called up 35 players for a 14-day training camp. This camp is in preparation for the upcoming 2026 Namibia Tri-Series, which begins on June 18 in Windhoek.

Mangongo, who recently signed a three-year contract with the Nigeria Cricket Federation, will work alongside former Female Yellow Greens head coach Leke Oyede and fitness coach Seye Olympio. The Namibia Tri-Series represents his first major assignment since taking the helm of the team, known as the Yellow Greens.

The 35-man squad was selected from participants in the recently concluded Nigeria Super League, featuring a blend of regular national team players and emerging talent. Notable regulars include captain Sylvester Okpe, Super League MVP Isaac Danladi, and Sulaimon Runsewe, captain of the Super League-winning Middle Belt Tigers. Several other established players also feature in the extended squad.

The selection also includes new faces such as Oyo State's Chima Akachukwu and Eghosa Aghedo, who garnered significant attention during the Super League. The final squad of 16 players will be trimmed down before the tournament. In Namibia, Nigeria will compete against the hosts and Hong Kong, China, in a T20I tri-series, followed by three One-Day International matches against Namibia.