Cricket · Careers
How to build a cricket career in Nigeria
From school cricket to the Yellow Greens and the World Cup: every step, the honest truth about pay, and advice from Nigeria's captains.
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Careers in cricket
Your road to the Yellow Greens
Cricket has been played in Nigeria since the first international match at the Race Course in Lagos in 1904, and today it is one of the country's fastest-rising team sports. Nigeria's girls stunned the cricket world by beating New Zealand at the 2025 ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup in Malaysia, and in September 2026 they qualified again, unbeaten, for the 2027 World Cup in Bangladesh and Nepal. In May 2026 the country's best players took part in the first professionally run franchise competition, the Nigeria Super League.
This page is for young players, parents, teachers and coaches who want to know how a cricket career is built in Nigeria: where to start, how players reach the Yellow Greens, what the game can pay, and the jobs in cricket that do not need you to bat or bowl. Every fact was checked on 1 October 2026.
An honest word first: cricket in Nigeria is still largely amateur. We could find no published salaries for Nigerian players. But the game is growing quickly, the federation rewards success with education, and every step below is open to a determined young player.
Career facts · Checked 1 October 2026
Nigerian cricket careers in numbers
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1904
First international
Played at the Race Course in Lagos.
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2
U19 Women's World Cups
2025 in Malaysia, and qualified for 2027.
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6
Super League franchises
In the first season, Lagos, May 2026.
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2002
ICC associate member
The year Nigeria joined the ICC.
The pathway at a glance
Six stages from school cricket to the national team
Ages are a guide. Cricket rewards late developers who keep learning.
Age 7 to 12
School cricket and taster sessions
The federation takes cricket into schools as part of its grassroots programme. Learn to bat, bowl and catch safely with a soft ball.
Age 10 to 15
Join a club or academy
Clubs, universities and the armed forces all play cricket. Regular coaching and matches build your game and your record.
Age 13 to 18
Junior championships
The federation runs national championships for juniors as well as men and women. Good performances lead to youth camps.
Age 15 to 19
Under-19 national teams
Nigeria's boys played the 2020 Under-19 World Cup; the girls played in 2025 and qualified again for 2027.
Age 17 and up
Senior club and Super League
The Nigeria Super League gives the best players a franchise stage in Lagos, watched by national selectors.
Age 18 and up
The Yellow Greens
The men's and women's national teams play T20 internationals and ICC qualifiers across Africa.
Step by step
Eight steps to a cricket career
Follow these in order, and keep your education going alongside them.
Pick up a bat and a ball, and keep your books open
Cricket is a game of skill and patience that suits boys and girls alike. Start with a soft ball, learn a straight bat and a clean bowling action, and practise catching every day. At the same time, stay serious about school: when Nigeria's under-19 girls qualified for the 2027 World Cup, the federation rewarded every player with a university scholarship. Education is part of a cricket career here.
- Ask your PE teacher whether your school plays cricket or knows a club nearby.
- Watch matches and learn the laws: wides, no-balls, LBW and run-outs.
Find a club with a coach
Below the national teams, cricket in Nigeria is played in schools, universities, clubs and the armed forces. A club gives you nets, matches, kit to share and a coach who can spot your role: batter, bowler, all-rounder or wicketkeeper. The national home of the game is the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Cricket Oval in Lagos. Ask the Nigeria Cricket Federation which clubs train near you.
Choose your speciality and work on it
Every team needs specialists. Nigeria's records show the range: Selim Salau hit 112 against Ivory Coast in a national-record 271 for 4 in 2024; Peter Aho took 6 for 5 against Sierra Leone in 2021; for the women, Lucky Piety scored 70 and Lillian Udeh took 6 for 7, both in Kigali in 2024. Find what you do best, then practise it with purpose: a set number of balls, a target, a record of your results.
Play junior championships and youth camps
The federation runs national championships for juniors, and its under-19 camps prepare players for ICC qualifiers. In August 2026 the federation shared camp videos from the TBS Cricket Oval as the girls prepared for the Africa qualifier. Be the most disciplined player at every camp: on time, fit and ready to learn.
Earn an under-19 World Cup place
Youth cricket has given Nigeria its proudest moments. Sylvester Okpe captained the boys at the 2020 ICC Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, Nigeria's first World Cup. In January 2025 the girls beat New Zealand by 2 runs in Malaysia. In September 2026, captained by Christabel Chukwuonye, they won all five matches at the Africa qualifier in Dar es Salaam, beating Zimbabwe by 4 runs in the final, with Omosigho Eguakun named best batter of the tournament.
Shine in the Nigeria Super League
The Nigeria Super League, launched in May 2026, brought six franchises to the TBS Cricket Oval for a round-robin stage, knockouts and a final. Middle-Belt Tigers beat Southern Sharks by 6 runs to become the first champions. National captain Sylvester Okpe said the league is helping players improve. It is the shop window for anyone who wants a national team place.
Win your national team cap
The men's Yellow Greens, coached since 2022 by Kenya's former captain Steve Tikolo, won an Africa sub-regional qualifier at home in Lagos in November 2024 and finished runners-up to Uganda at the ILT20 Continent Cup in Kigali that December. The women won bronze at the Kwibuka T20 tournament in Kigali in June 2026. In October 2026 Nigeria hosts an Africa sub-regional qualifier for the 2028 Men's T20 World Cup. Consistent runs and wickets in national competitions are how you get picked.
Build a life in cricket beyond playing
Most cricketers have careers outside the game, and many stay in cricket as coaches, umpires, scorers or administrators. Start learning those roles while you play. See Careers around the game below.
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Pay
Making a living from cricket
We will be honest: cricket in Nigeria does not yet pay a living wage to most players. These are the verified facts.
| Question | What we could verify | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Player salaries | No published salaries for Nigerian cricketers; most play as amateurs | SitesNG |
| Nigeria Super League | The first professionally run franchise league (May 2026); player fees were not published | SitesNG cricket league page |
| Education rewards | Every member of the under-19 girls' team that qualified for the 2027 World Cup was given a university scholarship | SitesNG cricket team page |
| International pathway | ICC tournaments such as the U19 World Cups and T20 World Cup qualifiers give players international experience | ICC |
How players manage: most combine cricket with school, university or a job. A university place won through cricket, travel with national teams and a growing domestic league are real rewards. Treat any offer of paid cricket abroad with care, and check it with the federation before you sign or pay anything.
Beyond playing
Careers around the game
Every cricket match needs far more people than the twenty-two players. These careers can start young and last a lifetime.
| Career | How to start in Nigeria | Where it can lead |
|---|---|---|
| Coach | Help at a school or club, then ask the Nigeria Cricket Federation which coaching courses it runs or recognises. | Club, state and national team coaching; the men's team is coached by former Kenya captain Steve Tikolo. |
| Umpire | Learn the Laws of Cricket and umpire school and club matches; ask the federation about umpiring courses. | National championships, the Super League and ICC regional events. |
| Scorer and statistician | Keep the book at club matches; learn digital scoring. | Official scorer at national and international matches. |
| Groundskeeper | Help prepare pitches and nets at your club or the TBS Cricket Oval. | Head groundsman at a major venue. |
| Administrator and media | Volunteer with your club, state association or the federation; write, film or photograph matches. | Club, league and federation roles; cricket journalism. |
Women's cricket
The path for girls and women
Nigeria's girls are the country's cricket headline. The path for girls runs from school and club cricket to junior championships, the under-19 team and the senior women's Yellow Greens.
- The women made their international debut at the 2011 ICC Africa Women's T20 tournament in Uganda and played their first T20 international against Rwanda in Abuja in January 2019, winning the series 3-2.
- When cricket joined the African Games in Accra, Nigeria's women won bronze.
- The under-19 girls beat New Zealand at the 2025 World Cup and qualified again for 2027, earning university scholarships for the whole squad.
Read more on our national teams page.
Stay safe
Safety, clean sport and scams
Cricket is a safe sport when it is played properly, and a clean one when players know the rules.
Stay safe and stay clean
- Wear a helmet, pads and gloves when batting against a hard ball, and a box for boys. Never face fast bowling without them.
- Young fast bowlers should build up their workload slowly; ask your coach to limit how many overs you bowl.
- Nigeria's National Anti-Doping Act 2025 applies to cricketers. Check every medicine and supplement before you take it.
- Be wary of anyone who asks for money to arrange trials or contracts abroad. Check every offer with the Nigeria Cricket Federation.
- Parents: make sure coaches and camps follow safeguarding rules, and that children are never left alone with one adult.
Advice from the stars
What Nigeria's cricketers want you to know
Every quote below was checked word for word against the outlet named under it. We add one practical lesson to each.
The league is helping players improve steadily.
Sylvester OkpeCaptain of Nigeria's men's Yellow Greens
Sports247, 4 June 2026The lesson: Play every competitive match you can: that is how players get better.
I'm grateful to my coaches and teammates for their belief and support throughout the tournament.
Omosigho EguakunBest batter of the 2026 ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier
Sports247, 7 September 2026The lesson: Cricket is a team game: respect the people who help you grow.
We believed in the plan, trusted one another and understood that every player had a responsibility.
Christabel ChukwuonyeCaptain of Nigeria's under-19 girls
Sports247, 7 September 2026The lesson: Know your role in the team and do it well.
We will go back home, look at the areas where we need to improve and train even harder.
Christabel ChukwuonyeAfter qualifying for the 2027 World Cup
Sports247, 7 September 2026The lesson: Success is the start of the next round of work.
Your first move
Where to start this week
You can begin this week:
- Ask your school or a local club about cricket training.
- Get a soft ball and practise catching and throwing every day.
- Learn the basic laws of cricket and watch Nigeria's matches.
- Decide whether you love batting, bowling or keeping wicket, and practise with a target.
- Keep your school grades strong: cricket success here can lead to university scholarships.
- Girls: ask about the women's and under-19 programmes.
- Parents and coaches: contact the Nigeria Cricket Federation for official programmes.
The federation's details are on our Contact Nigerian cricket page, and the stars to learn from are on our Nigerian cricketers page.
Keep exploring
Explore Nigerian cricket
Nigeria national cricket teams
Men, women and the U19 World Cup teams.Read more
Nigeria Super League
The first franchise league, won by Middle-Belt Tigers.Read more
Nigerian cricketers
Captains, record-breakers and rising stars.Read more
Contact Nigerian cricket
How to reach the Nigeria Cricket Federation.Read more
Quick answers
Cricket careers in Nigeria: your questions
How do I start playing cricket in Nigeria?
Ask your school or a local club about cricket. Cricket is played in schools, universities, clubs and the armed forces, and the Nigeria Cricket Federation runs grassroots programmes and junior championships.
Can you earn a living from cricket in Nigeria?
Not yet for most players. We could find no published salaries for Nigerian cricketers. The Nigeria Super League, launched in May 2026, is the first professionally run franchise competition, and the federation has rewarded success with university scholarships.
How do I get into Nigeria's under-19 team?
Play for a club or school, perform at junior championships and attend federation camps. Nigeria's girls qualified for the 2027 ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup after winning all five matches at the 2026 Africa qualifier in Dar es Salaam.
What is the Nigeria Super League?
A professionally run franchise T20 league created by the Nigeria Cricket Federation. Its first season was played at the TBS Cricket Oval in Lagos in May 2026, and Middle-Belt Tigers won the final by 6 runs.
Who coaches Nigeria's men's cricket team?
Kenya's former captain Steve Tikolo has coached the men's Yellow Greens since 2022. The captain is Sylvester Okpe.
What careers are there in cricket besides playing?
Coaching, umpiring, scoring and statistics, groundskeeping, administration and media. Start by helping at a club and ask the Nigeria Cricket Federation about courses.
Do girls play cricket in Nigeria?
Yes, and very successfully. Nigeria's women won bronze at the African Games, and the under-19 girls beat New Zealand at the 2025 World Cup and qualified again for 2027.