The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has announced that the 2025 West Africa Trophy will take place in Abuja, beginning on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
This marks the second edition of the regional tournament, following the successful maiden outing staged in Lagos in 2023.
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Nigeria’s senior men’s cricket team, the Yellow Greens, will open the tournament against Zambia in what promises to be a thrilling curtain-raiser.
Zambia replaces Ghana in this year’s lineup, while Rwanda and Sierra Leone return to compete for the title.
According to the NCF, the 2025 edition is expected to deliver an electrifying showcase of top-tier cricket, with national teams across the sub-region set to battle for supremacy, the competition will strengthen the cricket ties within Africa..
“The West Africa Trophy is a premier platform for strengthening cricket ties within Africa while providing emerging and established teams the opportunity to test their mettle, gain international exposure, and deepen sporting camaraderie,” the federation stated through its Public Relations Officer, Musa Ehizoje.
“The 2025 edition is expected to elevate the standard even further, with all participating nations gearing up to showcase their finest talents.”
Nigeria, the defending champions, will be aiming to retain their crown after winning the inaugural tournament unbeaten—capped by an 18-run victory over Rwanda in the 2023 final at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval, Lagos.
The Yellow Greens’ schedule will see them face Sierra Leone on Friday, December 5, before taking on Rwanda on Saturday, December 6.
All four participating teams will play one another three times in a round-robin format, with the top two nations qualifying for the final.
This year’s tournament also takes on added significance for Nigeria, who are looking to bounce back after narrowly missing out on qualification for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Their World Cup bid ended with a seven-wicket loss to Kenya at the African qualifiers in Zimbabwe.
As Abuja prepares to host the region’s premier cricket showpiece, the Yellow Greens will aim not only to defend their title but also to strengthen their standing in the ICC rankings while deepening cricketing bonds across West Africa.
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