The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has appointed Zimbabwean tactician Stephen Mangongo as the new head coach of the national men’s team, with the coach vowing to lead Nigeria to the 2028 Cricket World Cup.
Mangongo was officially unveiled on Wednesday, May 27, at the TBS Cricket Oval in Lagos. Newsmen confirmed his appointment ahead of the ceremony, marking a new chapter for Nigerian cricket under a coach with extensive experience in African cricket development.
During his unveiling, Mangongo expressed determination to qualify Nigeria for the 2028 Cricket World Cup, pledging to build a competitive team capable of challenging the continent’s top sides. He emphasized developing local talent, improving team cohesion, and winning the ICC T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional qualifiers as stepping stones to the global tournament.
The appointment follows the exit of former coach Steve Tikolo, who had overseen Nigeria’s progress including the nation’s victory in the Sub-Region C qualifiers in 2024. Under Tikolo, the Yellow-Greens resumed camping in Lagos for qualifiers and the ILT20 Cup, preparing for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup qualifiers.
Mangongo’s appointment signals Nigeria’s ambition to strengthen its cricketing infrastructure and compete at the highest level. The federation expects the new coach to mobilize players, implement strategic training programs, and elevate Nigeria’s standing in African and global cricket.
Earlier, players and officials emphasized that Nigeria’s inability to secure a World Cup ticket remained a major challenge, and the team’s focus is now on changing that narrative under Mangongo’s leadership.
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