Captain of the Nigeria national cricket team, Sylvester Okpe, has expressed his satisfaction with the progress cricket has made in Nigeria throughout 2024.

Speaking after Nigeria’s runner-up finish at the ILT20 Continent Cup in Kigali, Rwanda, in December, Okpe highlighted the significant strides cricket has made in the country and expressed his hopes for an even brighter future.

Nigeria suffered a six-wicket loss to Uganda in the final of the tournament, but Okpe emphasized that the experience gained will prove invaluable as the team prepares for the final phase of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup qualifiers.

In an interview with Brila.net, Okpe shared his optimism about cricket’s growth in Nigeria, noting that both the men’s and women’s teams have pivotal tournaments lined up in 2025, including the Women’s World Cup and the Men’s World Cup qualifiers.

“Cricket has been going well in this country. It’s something that is growing fast, and it will be great to see top-quality players representing Nigeria on the global stage.

There are enough formats of the game to be played, and the more players we develop, the easier it will be to compete at the highest levels,” Okpe said.

Nigeria’s next big challenge comes in 2025 when the men’s team will compete for a spot in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Having topped the Sub-Regional Qualifier C earlier this year, Nigeria will face seven strong opponents; Uganda, Kenya, Botswana, Malawi, Tanzania, Namibia, and Zimbabwe in their quest to secure a place in the prestigious tournament.

As cricket continues to gain traction in the country, Okpe remains hopeful that the sport will inspire more Nigerians to participate and help propel the national teams to greater heights.