Zimbabwean Stephen Mangongo appointed Nigeria cricket head coach

Stephen Mangongo, a seasoned Zimbabwean tactician with nearly three decades of coaching experience, has been appointed the new head coach of Nigeria's national cricket team, the Yellow Greens. The Nigeria Cricket Federation also named him its high-performance manager. His unveiling is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, at the TBS Cricket Oval.

Mangongo steps into the role previously held by Kenyan coach Steve Tikolo, who served for over three years. This appointment concludes the NCF's four-month search for a successor as Nigeria gears up for the ICC 2028 T20 World Cup qualifiers later this year. Mangongo's extensive background includes coaching Zimbabwe's U-15, U-19, 'A' side, and senior men's national team.

A significant achievement in his career was leading Zimbabwe to a historic victory over Australia in a tri-series in 2014. He has also participated in three ICC U-19 World Cups and served as an assistant coach in four ICC Men's World Cups. Beyond national team duties, Mangongo founded and directed a private cricket academy in Johannesburg for six years, focusing on talent development and mentoring notable Zimbabwean players like Hamilton Masakadza and Tatenda Taibu.

“

Our correspondent confirmed Mangongo’s appointment on Sunday ahead of his unveiling ceremony scheduled to take place on Wednesday, May 27, at the TBS Cricket Oval.