History will be made today at the Kasarani International Stadium Indoor Arena in Nairobi as Nigeria’s national netball team, the Green Hawks, makes its first-ever appearance in an international competition. The team is set to compete in the Netball Africa Cup, a high-stakes tournament that also serves as the official qualifying series for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Australia.
In a bold and unprecedented trajectory, Nigeria is stepping onto the continental stage just months after laying the sport’s administrative foundation. The Nigeria Netball Federation was formally established in February 2026, and the national team was officially assembled in June. Today, immediately following the tournament’s opening ceremony, the Green Hawks will test their mettle in their inaugural match against the host nation, Kenya.
The rapid development of Nigerian netball has been driven by the strategic vision of the National Sports Commission (NSC). Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade and NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko have been instrumental in this milestone. Dikko took it upon himself to ensure the newly established federation received vital funding, despite netball not being a prioritized sport for the Commission at the start of the year. Empowered by this backing, the team has expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the NSC leadership for making this historic opportunity a reality.
“It was something I really wanted to do—to give our girls another option and another pathway to progress and success in sport,” Hon. Olopade stated. “All the nations in Africa are embracing netball. 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.”
Composed primarily of talented players from the Nigerian diaspora in the United Kingdom, the Green Hawks are led by Head Coach Alison Akinrinlola. A former England international and current head of a UK netball franchise with pathways to the English Netball Super League, Akinrinlola brings elite experience and is highly optimistic about Nigeria’s future in the sport.
“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,'” Akinrinlola explained. “To now be presented with a chance to give these talented girls an opportunity to express themselves on the international scene is such a privilege, and 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 to inspire even more girls in Nigeria to take up the sport, making the country a force to reckon with in the shortest possible time.”
Regardless of the tournament’s final standings, fielding a competitive squad against Africa’s established, high-ranking netball nations just three months after the team’s formation is a remarkable administrative and athletic achievement in itself.
Echoing the squad’s enthusiasm, 21-year-old team captain Jade Popoola shared the players’ emotional readiness ahead of the opening whistle.
“We arrived in Nairobi really excited. This is real now,” Popoola said. “We are so thankful for this opportunity. We intend to give it our best and make Nigeria proud.”
