A new era for Nigerian cricket begins with Stephen Maziva Mangongo, who has already started his duties as the Nigeria Cricket Federation’s recently named Head Coach and High-Performance Manager.
- Decorated Zimbabwean to be unveiled today
The highly regarded coach, hailing from Zimbabwe, arrived in Lagos this week to take in the action from the ongoing Nigeria Super League before his formal introduction today at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval.
His appointment takes effect on 1 July 2026 and runs for three years, with the Nigeria Cricket Federation framing the decision as a major move toward creating a lasting cricket framework. The federation’s aim is to develop world-class players and strengthen the competitiveness of Nigeria’s national teams.
Holding an ICC Level 3 coaching qualification and boasting more than three decades of experience, Mangongo has previously worked across a range of setups in Zimbabwe. His coaching background includes spells with the Zimbabwe U-15 and U-19 sides, the Zimbabwe A team, and the Zimbabwe National Men’s Team. The federation points to his focus on talent development and high-performance structures as key reasons he is considered among the most experienced additions to Nigerian cricket in recent times.
NCF President Uyi Akpata welcomed the appointment as both decisive and forward-thinking, stressing that Nigeria must keep pushing toward professionalism and excellence. Akpata said, “Nigeria Cricket must continue to go the way of professionalism and excellence if we are to compete with the best teams across the world.”
In his dual role, Mangongo will oversee the technical direction of all national teams. That includes leading coach education initiatives, strengthening player pathways, and putting in place high-performance frameworks intended to raise Nigeria’s profile on the global cricket stage.
With the official unveiling scheduled for today at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval, stakeholders are expected to attend as the federation reaffirmed its commitment to driving the sport forward. The NCF said it remains dedicated to advancing cricket development, increasing grassroots involvement, and helping position Nigeria among Africa’s leading cricket nations.
