Today marks a watershed moment in the history of Nigerian athletics. The Nigeria Netball Federation (NNF) is immensely proud to announce that our national team, the Green Hawks, will make their official international debut at the Kasarani International Stadium Indoor Arena in Nairobi. Stepping onto the court to face host nation Kenya following the opening ceremony, our squad begins its campaign in the Netball Africa Cup—the definitive qualifying crucible for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Australia.
This debut is the culmination of an aggressive, focused administrative mandate. Since our formal inauguration in February 2026, the NNF has worked relentlessly to construct a competitive infrastructure from the ground up. By June, the Green Hawks were officially assembled. Fielding a high-caliber squad against Africa’s most established powerhouses a mere three months later is a direct testament to our organizational resolve and the extraordinary talent pool at our disposal.
We did not achieve this milestone in isolation. The NNF extends its profound gratitude to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the visionary leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC). Specifically, NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade provided decisive intervention. Chairman Dikko’s commitment to securing vital funding elevated netball to a priority status, ensuring our strategic vision became a reality.
As Hon. Olopade articulated regarding the executive push behind our federation:
“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. 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.”
To guarantee technical excellence on the court, the NNF appointed Alison Akinrinlola as Head Coach. Leveraging her elite background as a former England international and a UK franchise leader, Akinrinlola has forged a formidable squad anchored by top-tier talent from the Nigerian diaspora in the United Kingdom. Her mandate aligns perfectly with the NNF’s long-term developmental blueprint.
Reflecting on the talent pipeline and our broader mission, Coach Akinrinlola noted:
“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 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.”
The athletes themselves are the ultimate realization of this project. Twenty-one-year-old team captain Jade Popoola embodies the readiness and fierce national pride of the Green Hawks as they prepare for 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.”
The Nigeria Netball Federation stands resolutely behind the Green Hawks. Today is not merely about a single tournament; it is the definitive launch of Nigeria as a rising force in global netball.
