Nigeria to Host Expanded Women’s T20I Cricket Festival in March

The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has announced plans to bring back its annual Women’s T20 International event in Lagos from March 18–29, 2026, as part of efforts to develop the women’s game in the country.

The invitational competition will be staged at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval and this year features a five‑team line‑up including Nigeria’s own female side alongside teams from Ghana, Sierra Leone and Rwanda, as well as the South Africa Under‑19 women’s squad making their tournament debut.

Ghana last participated in 2023, while Rwanda and Sierra Leone return after recent appearances. The addition of the South African youth team expands the event beyond its original bilateral format with Rwanda.

The NCF says the tournament will serve as a high‑performance platform for Nigeria’s women cricketers ahead of major international commitments.

Plans are also underway for zonal qualifiers in the National Under‑17 Championship, which the federation sees as crucial to nurturing future talent across the country’s six geopolitical zones.