Nigeria Cricket Unveils 2026 Women’s T20I, U-17 Championship

The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has announced its plans for two major events in the 2026 cricket calendar, emphasizing both elite women’s competition and grassroots development. The announcement signals a renewed push to strengthen Nigeria’s position in regional and international cricket.

The Female Yellow Greens, Nigeria’s women’s national cricket team, are set to return to action in March 2026 for the Women’s T20 International (T20I) series. The series, originally intended as a bilateral fixture with Rwanda, was not held last year due to scheduling conflicts. The federation said the reinstated tournament is expected to attract strong regional competitors and provide essential match exposure for both established and emerging female players ahead of future international engagements.

“The Women’s T20I series will offer our players high-quality competition and prepare them for key international tournaments,” the NCF stated. Invitations have been extended to other nations, reflecting the federation’s ambition to raise the standard of women’s cricket in West Africa. Nigeria’s Female Yellow Greens, who won the title in 2023 before losing to Tanzania in 2024, are eager to reclaim regional supremacy.

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On the youth development front, the seventh edition of the National U-17 Championship is scheduled to begin with zonal qualifiers from February 10–23 across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. These zonal competitions provide young players with a structured environment to showcase their talent and gain experience in multi-state competition.

“The zonal qualifiers are a vital part of our cricket development pathway, offering young players the opportunity to test their skills and compete for national recognition,” the federation said. The National U-17 Championship has historically been a key platform for talent identification, producing several players who have gone on to represent Nigeria at international youth tournaments, including the ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup.

By combining the Women’s T20I series and the U-17 Championship in its 2026 calendar, the NCF aims to strengthen the talent pipeline from grassroots to national representation. Officials say the initiatives are designed to boost Nigeria’s competitiveness in women’s cricket and ensure a continuous flow of skilled players capable of competing at both regional and global levels.

With these events, the federation underscores its commitment to developing cricket across all age groups and genders, reinforcing Nigeria’s ambition to emerge as a regional powerhouse in the sport.