Nigeria Make Netball History With Africa Cup Debut

Nigeria’s Green Hawks will make history today when they face hosts Kenya in their first-ever international netball competition at the Africa Netball Cup in Nairobi.

The landmark encounter will take place at the Kasarani International Stadium Indoor Arena after the tournament’s opening ceremony, with the competition also serving as a qualifying series for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Australia.

Nigeria had never fielded a national netball team before 2026. The Nigeria Netball Federation was established in February, while the national team was assembled in June, paving the way for the country’s rapid entry into international competition.

The Green Hawks arrived in Nairobi on Friday ahead of their historic opening fixture against Kenya.

The team’s participation represents a significant step in the development of netball in Nigeria, with National Sports Commission (NSC) Director-General Bukola Olopade playing a leading role in driving the initiative, supported by NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko.

Dikko also helped secure funding for the newly established federation despite netball not initially being among the Commission’s priority sports for the year.

Olopade said the initiative was motivated by a desire to create another sporting pathway for Nigerian girls.

“It was something I really wanted to do. To give our girls another option and another pathway to progress and success in sport,” Olopade said.

“All the nations in Africa are embracing netball. And we have the ability, the passion and the girls who can stand up and do it. I received assurances and that was how we started.”

The Green Hawks squad is made up mainly of Nigerian players based in England, while the team is coached by Alison Akinrinlola, a former England international who also heads a netball franchise in the United Kingdom providing a pathway to the English Netball Super League.

Akinrinlola, who is Nigerian by marriage, believes the establishment of the national team can provide a platform for discovering and developing more Nigerian talent.

“I see many girls every week and every now and again, a Nigerian name pops up and I’m thinking, ‘this is a good talent’,” she said.

“To now be presented with a chance to give opportunity to these talented girls to express themselves on the international scene is such a privilege, something we are all excited about.

“It goes beyond just qualifying for the World Cup. It is more about creating a solid base for the first national team of Nigeria to inspire even more girls in Nigeria to take up the sport and make the country a force to reckon with in the shortest possible time.”

For Nigeria, the significance of the tournament extends beyond the result of today’s opening fixture.

The Green Hawks have gone from being non-existent at international level to competing against established and higher-ranked African netball nations within three months of assembling their squad.

Captain Jade Popoola, 21, said the players were relishing the opportunity to represent Nigeria on the international stage.

“We arrived in Nairobi really excited. This is real now. And we are so thankful for this opportunity. We intend to give it our best and make Nigeria proud,” Popoola said.

Regardless of the outcome against Kenya, Nigeria’s participation marks a new chapter for the sport, as the Green Hawks begin their journey towards establishing netball as a competitive sport in the country.