Nigeria’s senior men’s cricket team, the Yellow Greens, will face Zambia in the opening game of the 2025 West Africa Trophy — the second edition of the tournament — in Abuja on Thursday, December 4, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Nigeria Cricket Federation confirmed plans to stage the tournament again, this time in Abuja, after hosting the maiden edition in Lagos in 2023.

The Yellow Greens won the first edition with an unbeaten record, sealing a pulsating 18-run victory over a resilient Rwanda in the final at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval in Lagos in October 2023. Sierra Leone and Ghana also competed at the inaugural event.

Rwanda and Sierra Leone return for the 2025 edition, while Zambia — who will face Nigeria in the opener — replace Ghana.

After their opening fixture against Zambia, the Yellow Greens will face Sierra Leone on Friday, December 5, and Rwanda the following day.

The four participating countries will meet three times each in a round-robin format before the top two teams advance to the final.

According to the NCF, this year’s edition promises an electrifying display of skill, grit and regional cricket excellence, as Nigeria hosts what is expected to be one of the most competitive gatherings of cricketing nations in the sub-region.

“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 NCF said in a statement issued by 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.”

Having missed out on qualification for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, the Yellow Greens will aim to reclaim the West Africa Trophy and strengthen their position in the ICC rankings.

Nigeria’s World Cup dream ended after a seven-wicket defeat to Kenya in their final group match at the African qualifiers in Zimbabwe.