Nigeria Cricket Federation Appoints Stephen Mangongo as Coach

The Nigeria Cricket Federation has appointed Stephen Mangongo as the new head coach of the national cricket team, with a focus on qualifying for the ICC T20 World Cup in 2028. The announcement was made during a landmark event at the Cricket Lab TB Cricket Oval in Lagos on Wednesday, where Mangongo signed a three-year contract.

He replaces Kenyan coach Steve Tikolo, who left his position earlier this year. Uyi Akpata, the president of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, described Mangongo's appointment as a significant step in the federation's long-term vision for high performance.

Akpata emphasized the importance of grassroots cricket development and the need for a structured pathway for players. Mangongo brings extensive experience, having previously coached Zimbabwe's U-19 and senior national teams, and he aims to develop professional players capable of competing globally.

Nigeria will host the Africa sub-region C qualifiers in October, facing teams like Gambia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Uganda, and Zambia, with the top two teams advancing to the regional finals.