Nigeria’s national cricket team, the Yellow Greens, will step in for Kuwait at this year’s Pearl of Africa T20 Series, set for July 15–28 at the Entebbe Cricket Oval.
Kuwait, ranked 23rd in the ICC T20I standings, pulled out of the tournament, opening the door for 36th-ranked Nigeria.
Their addition not only keeps the tournament competitive but also strengthens African representation.
The change has prompted a tweak in the format. The event will now follow a double round-robin structure, with each team facing the others twice, except Namibia A and the UAE, who won’t meet.
Namibia A, a developmental side, won’t earn T20I status or tournament points. The team with the most points at the end will be crowned champion.
Nigeria head coach Steve Tikolo welcomed the opportunity, especially ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier in Zimbabwe this September.
“This is perfect for us. We haven’t played since November, and getting match time against strong opponents is key to our progress,” Tikolo said.
Captain Sylvester Okpe added that the team had been in camp for 10 days, focusing on fitness and tactics.
“We’re excited to play in Entebbe. It’s a great chance to prepare for Zimbabwe and improve our international ranking,” he said.
The tournament begins July 17, with Uganda taking on Namibia A, and Nigeria facing Kenya in their opener.
