Nigeria Cricket Federation has turned to seasoned Zimbabwean coach Stephen Mangongo to lead the country’s cricket team, the Yellow Greens, while also taking charge of the federation’s high-performance unit.
The federation finalised the appointment on Sunday, with an official presentation scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, at the TBS Cricket Oval.
Mangongo succeeds former Kenya international Steve Tikolo, whose stint with Nigeria lasted from October 2022 to January 2026.
The move concludes the federation’s months-long hunt for a new technical adviser as the country begins preparations for the ICC 2028 T20 World Cup qualifying campaign later this year.
Widely respected across African cricket, Mangongo brings decades of experience gained from working with several Zimbabwean national sides, ranging from youth categories to the senior men’s team.
A major milestone in his coaching journey came in 2014 when he masterminded Zimbabwe’s famous tri-series triumph against Australia, a feat that strengthened his reputation on the continent.
The veteran tactician has been involved in multiple ICC tournaments, including three U-19 World Cups, while also serving on the coaching crew at four senior men’s World Cups.
He previously headed Zimbabwe Cricket’s elite development programme and later established a private cricket academy in Johannesburg, where he spent years grooming young prospects.
Mangongo is credited with helping shape the careers of notable Zimbabwean players such as Hamilton Masakadza and Tatenda Taibu, both of whom achieved historic milestones for their country.
His honours include guiding Zimbabwe ‘A’ to the ICC Intercontinental Trophy title in 2008. He also earned national recognition after being named Zimbabwe’s top cricket coach in 2009 before receiving the country’s Best Sports Coach award a year later.
In 2010, he steered the Mountaineers to success in the first-ever Stanbic T20 competition.
The newly appointed Nigeria coach is certified with an ICC Level Three coaching qualification, alongside a Senior Instructor’s Cricket Certificate and a diploma in Marketing.
