YellowGreens Show Growth, Grit at Pearl of Africa T20 in Uganda

By Arinzechi Chukwunonso

The Nigeria national men’s cricket team, the YellowGreens, may not have finished among the top sides at the recently concluded Pearl of Africa T20 Series in Uganda, but their campaign was defined by resilience, steady improvement, and moments of brilliance that underscored the promise within the team.
As the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, Nigeria faced a mountain of challenges against more established sides like Kenya, Uganda, UAE, and Namibia A. Yet, despite the odds, the YellowGreens showed commendable character, with their performances improving as the tournament progressed.

The series began on a tough note for Nigeria.
On July 17, they faced Kenya and fell short by 18 runs in a DLS-adjusted match after being restricted to 88/9 while chasing 106.

A day later, on July 18, Uganda posted a commanding 180/4, and Nigeria could only muster 85/5 in reply — falling to a 77-run loss.

The match against Namibia A on July 19 saw Nigeria put up a fight with the bat (111 all out), but Namibia chased it comfortably, winning by 8 wickets. The poor run continued on July 21 against the UAE, where Nigeria’s batting collapsed to just 58 runs. UAE secured a 7-wicket victory.

On July 22, Nigeria met Uganda again, and though the bowling was tighter (restricting Uganda to 147/6), the YellowGreens couldn’t chase it down and lost by 38 runs.

Their fortunes began to turn on July 25 in a thriller against Namibia A. Defending 105/9, Nigeria held their nerve as Namibia finished 99/8 — giving the YellowGreens their first win of the tournament by 6 runs. It was a morale-boosting result that signalled the team was finding its footing.

Although they suffered a 53-run defeat to UAE on July 26, the YellowGreens ended the tournament with a spirited performance against Kenya on July 27, posting 113/9 before Kenya chased it down with 6 wickets to spare. While it wasn’t a victory, it was another game where Nigeria showed structure and fight.
Despite the team’s overall struggles and they deserve praise, but lets spot the top 3.

Top 3 Batters:
• Sylvester Okpe – 100 runs
• Prosper Useni – 89 runs
• Isaac Danladi – 88 runs

Top 3 Bowlers:
• Sylvester Okpe – 7 wickets
• Taiwo Mohammed – 7 wickets
• Peter Aho – 7 wickets

Sylvester Okpe in particular was a standout performer, contributing both with the bat and the ball highlighting his value as a reliable all-rounder.

Beyond the results, this tournament is a stepping stone in Nigeria’s long-term cricket development strategy. With the ICC Men’s Africa T20 World Cup Qualifier scheduled for Zimbabwe later this year, Nigeria is already laying the groundwork.
• Isaac Okpe, Elijah Olaleye, and Selim Salau will be heading to Zimbabwe’s Domestic League from August 2 to September 14, 2025, offering them valuable exposure to high-level competition.
• Runsewe Sulaimon and Isaac Danladi are set to travel to South Africa for a High-Performance Training Programme, giving them the platform to fine-tune their skills ahead of the African qualifiers.

Though Nigeria ended the Pearl of Africa T20 Series with just one win, the journey was rich with lessons and signs of growth. Against higher-ranked teams, the YellowGreens showed improvement with each game. From a shaky start to an inspiring win over Namibia A, they proved they are no pushovers.

As the team continues to build depth and experience through international exposure and structured training, the future holds promise. With talent, resilience, and the right developmental support, Nigeria’s men’s team is steadily marching toward becoming a strong force on the African cricket scene.
The YellowGreens may have started slow, but they are undoubtedly on the rise.