Head Coach of Nigeria’s senior women’s cricket team, Female Yellow Greens, Adeleke Oyede, has assured that the team is leaving no stone unturned in its preparations for the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers, scheduled to take place in Namibia from August 28 to September 7.
Nigeria will face tough competition against Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone in a bid to secure one of the top two spots that guarantee progression to the global qualifiers later in the year.
The ultimate prize is a place in the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, to be staged in England.
Speaking on the team’s progress, Coach Oyede shared his satisfaction with the players’ work rate, commitment, and readiness to rise to the challenge.
“We have been working so hard and it’s quite intense in the camp here. Our whole idea is to make sure that we uplift the girls’ skill and brush them up so that they’ll be able to perform in that top level,” Oyede stated.
“All these are put together to awaken their game awareness, game knowledge, the tactic behind it and then to keep them in that frame of readiness adequately so that we would get us not into the global qualifier.”
“There has been a positive response from the girls in camp here and a lot of positivity in terms of acclimatizing with the situation and then the task that has been set,” he added.
Nigeria’s women’s team, popularly known as the Female Yellow Greens, made history earlier this year when the U-19 side finished sixth at the 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia, securing automatic qualification for the 2027 edition.
The senior team will now look to build on that to stake a claim among Africa’s elite sides.
With Zimbabwe and Uganda ranked among the continent’s strongest, and Namibia enjoying home advantage, Oyede acknowledged the challenge ahead but remains confident that his side can rise to the occasion.
The qualifiers promise to be fiercely contested, with only two slots available for Africa at the global stage.
Female Yellow Greens Await Final Squad List for World Cup Qualifiers
The camp of Nigeria’s senior women’s cricket team, the Female Yellow Greens, is also brimming with anticipation as head coach Leke Oyede prepares to unveil the final 15-player squad for the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers.
The squad announcement is scheduled for Monday, following weeks of rigorous training and trial matches.
Nigeria has been camping in Lagos for the final phase of preparations after opening camp last month in Benin City, Edo State, with 22 players.
Four players have already been dropped as Oyede trims the team to the decisive list.
The Africa Qualifiers will take place in Namibia from August 28 to September 7, with Nigeria set to face Sierra Leone in their opening game before clashing with the hosts, Namibia, in the second group match.
Nigeria will battle against Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone for one of the two tickets to the global qualifiers, which will be staged later in the year.
The Female Yellow Greens will look to achieve better than the U-19 Junior Female Yellow Greens, who impressed at the 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia, finishing sixth overall.
The 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will be hosted in England, and Nigeria hopes to make a historic appearance at the prestigious tournament.
