Netball Africa Cup: Nigeria Set for Historic Debut Against Kenya
History will be made today at the Kasarani International Stadium Indoor Arena in Nairobi as Nigeria’s national netball team, the Green Hawks, make their international competition debut at the Netball Africa Cup.
The tournament also serves as a qualifying series for the 2027 Netball World Cup, scheduled to be held in Australia, giving Nigeria an opportunity to begin its international journey with a place at the global showpiece potentially at stake.
Nigeria has never previously fielded a national team in netball. The country’s rapid emergence in the sport followed the establishment of the Nigeria Netball Federation in February 2026 and the formation of the national team in June.
Just three months after assembling the squad, the Green Hawks will face hosts Kenya in their opening fixture today in Nairobi, following the tournament’s opening ceremony.
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The development of netball in Nigeria has received significant backing from the National Sports Commission, with Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade driving the initiative alongside NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko.
According to the team, Dikko played a key role in securing funding for the newly established federation despite netball not initially being among the Commission’s priority sports at the start of the year.
Olopade explained that expanding opportunities for Nigerian girls was a major motivation behind the initiative.
“It was something I really wanted to do. To give our girls another option and another pathway to progress and success in sport. 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,” Olopade stated.
The Green Hawks squad is made up mainly of Nigerian players based in the diaspora, with all the players coming from England.
The team is coached by Alison Akinrinlola, a former England international netball player who also heads a netball franchise in the United Kingdom that provides a pathway towards the English Netball Super League.
Akinrinlola, who is Nigerian by marriage, believes the national team’s participation can help establish a foundation for the long-term development of the sport in Nigeria.
“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’.
“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 and it goes beyond just qualifying for the World Cup.
“It is more for 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.”
Regardless of the outcome of their opening game or their overall campaign, Nigeria’s participation represents a significant milestone for a team that was only assembled in June 2026.
Within a few months, the Green Hawks have moved from the formation of a new national programme to competing against established and highly ranked netball nations on the African continent.
Team captain Jade Popoola, 21, said the players are 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.”
The Green Hawks will begin their historic campaign against hosts Kenya in what will be Nigeria’s first-ever match at an international netball competition.
