NIGERIA coach Steve Mangongo believes three months of preparation have given his side a genuine chance of advancing from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier C, but he knows the work will count for little unless the hosts finish among the top two.
With six nations competing for the final two places at the Africa Regional Final, Mangongo has made it clear that Nigeria are not hosting the tournament simply to make up the numbers.
“Success will be measured by finishing in the top two,” Mangongo told Cricket Africa.
“The thrill of playing at home will bring adrenaline to the Naija boys. The boys are raring to go.”
Nigeria face The Gambia in their opening match in Abuja on Tuesday with Uganda, Zambia, Mozambique and Lesotho also competing in the six-team tournament.
Each side will play five matches, and only the top two will advance to the next stage of qualification for the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
For Mangongo, the campaign has been taking shape for nearly three months, with the Nigeria Cricket Federation investing in specialist training, high-performance coaching and competitive matches to prepare the squad.
“NCF have put resources into team preparations. Nearly three months have gone into the preparations,” he said.
“Specific specialist camps, a high-performance camp with international coaches and a quadrangular series were all organised as pathways to these qualifiers.”
The Zimbabwean coach believes that work has given his players enough preparation to compete, particularly with the added responsibility of performing in front of their own supporters.
Much will depend on how Nigeria use the new ball.
Mangongo has identified captain Chima Akachukwu and left-arm pace bowler Abdallahi Ismail as two players who could set the tone with their bowling.
“Much is expected of captain Chima Akachukwu upfront with the ball and left-arm speedster Abdallahi Ismail,” he said.
He also singled out all-rounder Taiwo Muhammed as a player capable of changing a match.
“A couple of players in the Nigeria team are game changers on their day. Look out for Abdallahi Ismail and Taiwo Muhammed, the all-rounder,” he added.
The attention given to preparation has extended beyond the players.
Mangongo praised the work carried out at NCF Oval 1 and NCF Oval 2, where the tournament matches will be played, and credited the grounds staff for preparing the pitches.
“NCF is on a serious cricket mission. It’s like a duck taking to water,” he said.
“The two pitches next to each other are picturesque.”
He highlighted the efforts of head groundsman Francis, recruited from Uganda, alongside Mark from Lagos and Anosa from Benin.
“[They] have been busy with attention to detail to make sure we have proper T20 pitches,” Mangongo said.
The condition of the two grounds will matter throughout the tournament, with matches scheduled across successive days and teams having little time to recover from poor performances.
Nigeria captain Akachukwu said the squad had maintained its intensity even as the opening match approached.
“The intensity on the field today was high. That’s why we’ve been training so hard,” he said after a training session.
“The guys are not even relenting. They’re not tired. The energy is still high. They still want to train more.”
That enthusiasm has left the coaching staff with difficult decisions over the starting XI.
Asked whether the training session had helped settle the selection, Akachukwu said the final decision remained with the coaches.
“It depends on the coaches. It’s a tough time for them,” he said.
The captain also dismissed concerns that Nigeria could struggle with nerves in their opening match.
“We know Game 1 might be a pressure, but we know how to handle it. I think we’ve passed that first-game struggle,” he said.
Although Nigeria must first negotiate their opening fixtures, the meeting with Uganda on October 25 is already attracting attention.
Uganda arrive as the highest-ranked side in the competition and have the experience of appearing at the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup.
Mangongo respects that record but is unwilling to treat rankings as a guarantee of what will happen when the two sides meet.
“Uganda are the top ranked indeed. However, you are only as good as your last innings. It’s a massive game,” he said.
“In tournament games, you bring your best and you win the game. This game is a typical game of the decade.”
His assessment reflects the importance Nigeria attach to testing themselves against a side that has already reached the global stage.
But Mangongo’s plans for Nigerian cricket extend beyond the result of one qualifier.
He wants the men’s national team to become a regular contender among Africa’s strongest four nations and eventually compete consistently at global level.
“The long-term plan for Nigeria men’s team is to be a dominant player in Africa, amongst the top four, and be a global competitor,” he said.
He believes the domestic structure is beginning to provide a base for that ambition.
According to Mangongo, state leagues are operating in about five states, with Edo and Lagos offering particularly competitive cricket.
“Domestic game in Nigeria is growing rapidly. There are lots of state leagues in about five states, with Edo State League and Lagos League being very competitive,” he said.
However, he wants more attention paid to longer-format limited-overs cricket, arguing that the country’s players need opportunities to develop the patience and judgement required to construct an innings.
“There is need to play 50-over league cricket so players learn to build innings,” Mangongo said.
For now, the immediate task is much shorter and more demanding: five T20 matches with two qualification places available.
Nigeria have invested in coaching, preparation matches and playing facilities. Mangongo has identified the players he expects to make a difference, while Akachukwu says the squad’s energy has not dropped as the tournament approaches.
The coach has also left no uncertainty about the result he expects.
Nigeria must finish in the top two. Anything less would mean their World Cup qualification campaign ends on home soil.
