Sulaimon Runsewe will captain Nigeria’s men’s cricket team, the Yellow Greens, as they defend their title at the West Africa Trophy in Abuja starting Thursday. The squad for the tournament, announced by head coach Steve Tikolo, includes 14 players, with regular skipper Sylvester Okpe stepping aside to let Runsewe lead. Tikolo also welcomed a few fresh faces into the lineup.
Alongside Runsewe, players such as Selim Salau, Ali Rahmon, Daniel Ajekun, and Danladi Isaac will take part in what is expected to be a fiercely competitive contest. The Okpe siblings, Sylvester and Isaac, bring a wealth of international experience, helping Nigeria strike a balance between batting and bowling strengths.
Other members of the squad include Vincent Adewoye, Kenneth Boniface, Prosper Useni, Ukasha Ishaku, Elochukwu Ndubudem, Joshua Asia, and Abdullahi Ismail, combining youthful energy with seasoned expertise to create a well-rounded team.
Peter Aho, the Guinness World Record holder for the fastest bowling figures, will be absent due to his participation with the Dubai Capitals in the ILT20 Season 4 in Qatar.
The Yellow Greens enter the tournament as reigning champions, having won the inaugural edition without losing a match. They claimed an 18-run victory over Rwanda in a thrilling final at Lagos’ Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval in October 2023. Sierra Leone and Ghana also took part in that first edition.
For 2025, Rwanda and Sierra Leone return, while Zambia replaces Ghana and will face Nigeria in the opening game on Thursday. Following that, the Yellow Greens play Sierra Leone on December 5 and then Rwanda on December 6. The four nations will compete three times each in a round-robin format, with the two top-ranked sides meeting in the championship match.
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