The Nigeria Cricket Federation has announced a 16-man YellowGreens squad for the upcoming Namibia Tour.

In a statement issued by the federation’s media manager, Zeal Ibe, on Monday, the team is expected to depart Nigeria on Monday for the series.

According to the statement, the YellowGreens will compete in a T20 and 50-over Tri-Series involving hosts Namibia and Hong Kong, China, scheduled to be held from June 18 to June 29.

He said the tour is part of the national team’s preparations for future international competitions as the YellowGreens continue to improve on recent performances and strengthen their position in world cricket.

”The squad will be led by Captain Sulaimon Runsewe, who is expected to guide the team against Namibia and Hong Kong, China, in what is anticipated to be a highly competitive tournament,” he said.

Mr Ibe noted that the selected squad blends experienced players and emerging talents, providing the technical crew an opportunity to assess player development and experiment with different combinations in both the T20 and 50-over formats.

He added that the return of Chima Akachukwu and Miracle Akhigbe was a major highlight of the squad announcement.

He said the duo returned to the national team after spending some time away and hoped to make meaningful contributions as Nigeria seeks success in Namibia.

Mr Ibe said the team would be supervised during the early stage of the tour by coaches Leke Oyede and Tamuno John.

He added that the newly appointed head coach and high-performance manager, Stephen Magongo, would join the team later in Namibia.

He said Mr Magongo’s arrival represents another step in the federation’s efforts to strengthen the national team structure and improve player development.

The media manager listed the technical crew to include team analyst Jamal Okechukwu, strength and conditioning coach Seye Olympio, and team physiotherapist Timothy Adesomowo.

He described the Namibia Tri-Series as an important platform for the continued growth of the national team, providing valuable international exposure and competitive match experience against quality opposition.

He said the series would allow players and coaches to assess progress, fine-tune strategies and build momentum ahead of future international assignments.

The YellowGreens are expected to face Namibia and Hong Kong China in both T20 and 50-over matches, with the contests set to test the team’s adaptability, discipline and resilience.

The federation expressed confidence in the team’s ability to perform well and urged cricket fans across the country to support the YellowGreens as they represent Nigeria on the international stage.

(NAN)